the story of the world
in two words
why was the city built?
why did it burn? dear God
why did the people die
but these love each other?
why fish? why water?
dear God. why does the night end
or envelop? dear God,
why can’t the only one i love—
or why did i heal,
the doctors save me
years ago, to break me
another way? dear God,
how many times?
how many jokes or sunsets?
whose evil? devils hide
or angels fly? dear God
words fail but two;
the whole vast legion
of universes bent end
over end:
dear God,
in prayer—
i can’t say if that’s the proof of it,
but it’s how i know.
salvation and subversion and
religion, a great ambush,
dear God.
