If God Responded
Meridith Beretta
I’ve seen men with blood stained
hands from trying to exterminate
a race, bend knees and fold hands
to worship the same god a child
calls, “heavenly father”.
Women beg - plead for salvation
with trembling rosary beads.
People dedicate their lives to
service, speaking into a
phone that never rings.
What would happen if God
returned a phone call or wrote
a letter? Would children die from
bullets in schools? Would girls
slit their wrists in ceramic alters?
If God answered prayers would
there be wars about religions? If
he said two plus two does equal
five, would our laws be rewritten?
If God sent a message, would
black men, Jews, Native Americans,
or hijab’d women still fight to
keep from being reduced to
bloody carnage?
If God gave a hint about his
thoughts and which texts were
right, would a plane still have
crashed into the two buildings?
If God gave a damn about his
creations would it matter who you
loved or your skin color?
Would white still be His color,
or would tan no longer be the
look of damnation?
If God spoke would his name
lose all meaning? His power
diminished? Would those who
claim to know him and be
blessed with grace find
his voice unfamiliar?
If God responded would I hit
my knees to listen and
be disappointed?
Spring, 2019 Issue