Photography © Edward S. Gault

 

Sermon in a Time of Pandemic

In this morning’s sermon, the preacher said,
“Remember, children, do not vaccinate.
If God wants to kill you, He will. He will.
Do not tempt His Hand as if you control
the form of your demise. Nothing you do
can proof yourself from fate that He ordains.
Why bother? Only God can save your soul
from death of sin, from pit of selfish fire,
from loud hosanna to power of man.
Do not praise the test tube or the needle
for no earthly serum will deliver you
nor mask impede the worm of damnation
that wriggles in your flesh and makes you choke
and cough, makes you die. Only God can save.
Remember the sparrow numbered by God
how fleet its flight, the pleasure of the Lord,
the arc He’s given it, and the feathers,
and how even it answers to His Will.
This life of air and limb, this flash in sky,
this little sparrow falls when god decrees.
Well, God has counted you, too. He holds you
in the palm of His Hand and has a Plan
for you. No man-made magic, no science,
no machinations of men in white coats
can replace the glorious Love of God.
Be the sparrow. Sing in exaltation
for the Plan and Gifts of God Almighty.”

 

Cecil Morris retired after 37 years of teaching high school English and now tries writing himself what he spent so many years teaching others to understand and (maybe) enjoy. He and his indulgent partner (the mother of their children) divide their year between California and Oregon. He likes ice cream too much and cruciferous vegetables too little for his own good.

Edward S. Gault is a poet and fine art photographer. He lives at Mosaic Commons, a co-housing community in Berlin, Massachusetts.