Sins Fade
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Sins fade, one by one,
galloping over the shore.
Mary Magdalene once carried
the weight of the world–
her face set and grim–
a revolution, a brilliancy
in her voice, nearer to childhood
than any of the others–
her flaming sword held
against her breasts,
the glow of holy madness
in her eyes, ready to defend
the lost light even to the gates of hell.