The Law of Falling Bodies: Poems

To My God, in His Absence

To My God, in His Absence Father, who will rescue me, now that You’re missing in action? Everything I love’s gone down to a dark molecular ruin. Sir, I am afeared, left here with my own wayward urgencies. I have seen the front-end loader backing up. I have double-dated Nostalgia and her ugly sister Remorse. I’ve been switching tracks like a railroad man in a railroad hat. These days, even my confusions are doped up on adrenalin. Somebody must owe me reparations, for I’m feeling mighty abused. Many and many get at the most, and the others creep away. All those who learned the lessons of gravity from banana peels: my people. All those with little fetuses dancing on their bladders: my people. All those raised in empires of the miserable, with colonies to match: my people. Bless us, Lord, for all our faults and for Your wintry virtues. I’ve been standing at the crossroads, supping with a long spoon, Always at the mercy of Your crap shoot and sad astonishments. The time for miracles is over, for mysteries too bitter to believe. Sorrow follows me like a dog behind the butcher’s truck. Amen to what I remember. Amen to the sick heart. 81 • • • ...