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jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2004-03-21 01:18 AM



....not poetic, but all I could come up with tonight, or . . .


Was It Now


When God sat me down and said,
"look here, this is what I expect",
I laughed  . . .  "c’mon man,
you don’t really expect me to act that way,
this is 2004, for cripes sake. We’ve
progressed since the Old Testament
was supplanted by the New,
and even the New Testament is history now."

He looked at me in a condescending way –
"Yes, yes, I know all about modern man,
his forgetfulness, his scientific achievements
explaining me, his big-bang creating universes
out of nothing; and who do you suppose created
“nothing”?"

"Hey, I’m not into science, man, I said.
I don’t understand all those quacks and quarks
and dark holes that suck up everything,
and I’m not into church, either,
with it’s self-righteous, finger-pointing,
other side of the fence perverts who tell ME how to live."

"But I do believe in the Golden Rule,
and I do try and live my life by it’s edict –
you do unto me and I’m by-gosh gonna get you back,
unless you’ve done me right."

God shook his head back and forth,
mumbled something under his breath,
waved his left hand over the clouds
upon which we sat
and let the fires of hell show through,
the smell of brimstone waif up,
the screams of the damned reach our ears,
and said, "this is what it boils down to, isn’t it?"

"What? You think that scares me?" I said.
I live on the street, man. You want scared,
walk in my shoes for a day. Hell has no idea
what it means to burn."

I stood up, walked to the edge of the abyss he’d created,
spread my arms wide,
lifted my eyes to the stars . . .
"Do me a favor, will you . . . push.

God put a hand on my shoulder,
pulled me back, and said,
"Obviously it’s time I returned, isn’t it?"

I looked at him, shrugged.
"Don’t know if that’s a good thing, God.
There are people down there would kill you
just for stepping in front of them,
and there are many more that would kill you just to make a point.
You’re a pretty good dude in spite of the way I talk,
and I’d hate to see you hurt."

He smiled, spread both arms wide.
Hell closed up and I saw and felt things
I never knew existed . . .

I awoke, lying on my back in bed
looking at the stars I’d pasted on the ceiling, glowing,
feeling the breeze from the overhead fan.
Church bells were ringing down the street,
then more joined them, and more.

God, I thought, what a dream!
"But,was it now," I heard, "was it now?"


w. james beard, jr.
(c) march 21, 2004

[This message has been edited by jwesley (03-21-2004 04:22 AM).]

© Copyright 2004 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved
DavePage
Member Elite
since 2003-12-21
Posts 2917

1 posted 2004-03-21 04:09 AM


God meets the street

Liked it

Dave

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
2 posted 2004-03-21 02:41 PM


James:

What wonderful poetry from the dreams of a humble man.
Bravo!
TD

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
3 posted 2004-03-21 02:42 PM


Excellent write James...much enjoyed.
Hugs~

Poetry is not an opinion expressed...
it is a song that rises from a bleeding wound
...or a smiling mouth.

         ~  Kahlil Gibran

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
4 posted 2004-03-21 03:35 PM


It was a cute thing to sit on the cloud with you and God, while reading!

It was Now! Nothing better than a conversation with God, I tell you.

Very good write!

Love, Margherita

Nightshade
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962
just out of reach
5 posted 2004-03-21 03:43 PM


Really interesting thoughts Jimmy!
Enjoyed. Chris

   Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.
                                          Hans Christian Anderson

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