Father Zossima’s body starts to smell
ambition whispers 
around the bed
an acolyte opens a window
people gather.
we are told the stench is sin

and so, to return to our story
I’m in love with my wife
when she sleeps,
I’m in love with the world 
when it sleeps,
and I love, faltering, 
but still love Father Zossima.

Check out other work in the Practicing My Writerly Gaze series here.