Virgin

There was no hush-hush no reticence
in the talk about the sometimes confrontations
between the Filipino barman who had Our Lady in hock
and the little girl who wanted her back
if the priest was coming she would run down the block
to the bar face and hands and sagging school socks
grayish-white in the dim doorway
saying can we get the statue back
people said anyway there she is again the girl
the daughter of the drinker of the man
who bartered the household god for a jar
with the boys and a night spent heaving in the can