Old Saint God

“Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.”
Al Swearengen, Deadwood

But, damn, there are so many ways to make God laugh, and in that laughter, so sweetly divine, so many countless undertones, overtones, harmonies and softly echoing counterpoints. So many chuckles, God’s retributions for our hubris of standing up and trying to take charge of our destiny. Ha.

Go ahead, step on that crack. If your mother breaks her back, you will regret it, but God will
be pleased, guffawing and giggling in his shirtsleeves.

Think you’re a Survivor? Think again, while God is busy setting up the laugh track.
Then wait for it, because there always comes that moment, dreaded more than evil, more than darkness, that moment of diminishing returns, of borrowing, of bankruptcy, and then nothing, busted. Complete silence.

But then, as if on cue, tinnitus comes roaring in God’s blasted ear. The ringing and the laughter chime together, and the universal grin once again spreads across the deep,
parting the dirt from the ashes.

 

Stacy Esch lives and works in West Chester, Pennsylvania, teaching English at West Chester University. Digital art and photography are the twin passions that compete alongside her interest in writing, reading, songwriting, and gardening. She has previously published work at Turkshead Review and wordriver literary review. She is currently selling a calendar through Spruce Alley Press.