Defiance

It was 1966,

which already tells you something.

They were young and owned nothing

but ambition, hope, and

faith in a new church,

the fresh air

of Vatican II.

The bishop spoke.

Sixty years later an old grad told me

what they heard that day:

Vatican Two? Screw that.

So the time came for the blessing

of the graduation rings.

And up went the rings,

each of them on the middle finger.

A single gesture multiplied—

and somewhere God, I hope,

Iaughed

before getting

back to work.