Now God walked down
in the electrified buzzing heat
of the Birmingham night
to see what he could see.

Funny sort of God, this one was,
calling out names of people
when he already knew where they were

though this time around he figured
maybe it was better
to just let the issue at hand slide.

Propriety, you know,
and sometimes things just go easier
when you don't make a fuss.

So God didn't say anything.
He watched the woman leave.
He watched the man leave.

And he smiled a bit when he saw
them peek both ways out the door
making sure nobody saw them together.

And he stood there leaning on his stick
for a while after they had driven off,
pondering what sort of image it was
they were made in anyway.

03/19/2007

Author's Note: A somewhat twisted retelling of an old gospel song. At least the first part of it. Sort of. An imaginary cookie to anyone who figures out the hymn.

Posted on 03/20/2007
Copyright © 2024 Arthur Parten