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God Stepped Into the Classroom
by Ken HarnischGod stepped into the classroom at ten after the hour
Apologizing to the professor
But not his fellow students for His tardiness.
The professor, being one of those academics
Who liked to paint things in the third-person
Said, “There are those who respect the clock,
And those who should, and while apologies are accepted,
If sincere, disruption of the status quo
Cannot be so easily dismissed.”
God yawned and pulled the tab back on His
Starbuck’s Grande. It took a moment to realize
He was being spoken of, and to.
God shrugged and said,” If my arrival
Disrupted the lives of anyone in this room
Then I humbly apologize.
And if the lives of anyone in this room
Were not bettered by my arrival, at whatever hour,
Then I think no apology will ever suffice.”
The class exploded in applause,
Though for what they did not know.
And the professor put those words away
In his wallet, a folded up piece of paper
To be used, perhaps, in some future lecture
On the nature of parables.
12/01/2008 Author's Note: Allegory? Maybe. Parable? Perhaps. What this is not in any shape or from is a political statement. Me being a strict Constitutionalist and all.
Posted on 12/01/2008
Copyright © 2025 Ken Harnisch
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by A. Paige White on 12/01/08 at 04:08 PM This is awesome! Allegory? Parable? Not sure either, but it is poetry. Strict constitutionalist, eh? Wonderfully done, sir. |
| Posted by Charlie Morgan on 12/01/08 at 05:42 PM ...i'm not as smart as you are paige, to know nuttin' but i like the lay of the land in this one... |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 12/01/08 at 06:18 PM I've had scenes like this play out in my head, but you did far better work with the image than I ever could. Outstanding. |
| Posted by Sandy M. Humphrey on 12/01/08 at 10:29 PM Not that He ever left but I like your take on this and the words tucked into the wallet for future use...I say allegory. smh |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 12/02/08 at 12:30 AM I love the conversational tone of both prof and God - much said here and much to consider. I also love the words being put away in the wallet for future use. Well done. |
| Posted by Tony Whitaker on 12/05/08 at 09:16 AM Parables indeed and one for my own "holy book" of favorites this one goes. Such a chill after reading this several times and realizing how many ways one take this. I choose to believe in His sense of humor, at one level, and his power at another.
Brilliant! |
| Posted by Joan Serratelli on 03/16/09 at 09:01 PM I enjoyed this piece. The vision of G-d in a classroom? That's really great. Allegory, parable or poetry? Doesn't matter- wonderful story and very enjoyable, thought provoking read! |
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