in memory of those we have lost

Ahmaud Arbery (Boston 2020), Gail Miles (Boston 2011), Addie Mae Collins (Alabama 1963),
Cynthia Wesley (Alabama 1963), Carole Robertson (Alabama 1963), Carol Denise McNair (Alabama 1963)

 

Living our spiritual lives
in isolation.
Practicing faith
the best we can,
remnants tattered, wellworn.

God has called for a moratorium.
The Ten Commandments are in need
of updates, revisions.

The legal departments of heaven,
hell, and purgatory summoned
for emergency meetings,
reviewing contracts,
negotiations, renegotations.

Past and Present lives
creating crisis afterlife.
Pride, greed, hate, prejudice,
the “isms” running rampant
as insatiable egoism
consumes humanity.

Recommendation that Earth
be expelled from the solar system
for continued and blatant
disregard of the lives
of its people!

Best hope:
Judgement may be delayed
because of spiritual technicalities,
lack of representation.
Even saints have concerns
about working in a place
where messengers are ignored,
jailed or assassinated!

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.