And The Beats Go On
Grace Cathedral by Elaine Webster
God’s house in San Francisco is in a rich neighborhood
one where fancy people ride in fancier cars
and poor folks unload them at the Mark Hopkins hotel.
God lives in a rich neighborhood in San Francisco
so rich that he has his own pinball puzzle painted on the living room floor
for when he gets bored with heaven and wants to join with us
as we walk in circles
God’s house has heavy oak furniture so for all eternity it can’t be moved
God likes the way he makes things and wants them to stay that way
and not get stolen, broken or scratched
God’s organ is huge
as it would have to be to create the music in so many souls
his brass pipes are tall and stiff and full of air
yet tiny fingers of man or woman can stroke them musically to perform
the most intricate melodies that bring joy to the world
or pain
that’s the part I don’t get
I look to the wall and he hangs there
crucified
some say it was all for our sake
our sins or karma
but what if it was a simple mistake
not intentional at all
a bad day with bad people doing bad things
some say he rose up anyway
well he probably did
like a dog that shakes off the water from his soggy coat after a torrential downpour
then curls in the corner of his private heaven
where the master or mistress strokes his ears and kisses his nose
A girl with chartreuse hair hits the buttons on her phone with her thumbs
text messaging God I presume
she stares intent on the reply
I glance at the screen and it says
No worries