TRUE BELIEVERS (March 29) —
CLEARLY, this virus is divine retribution
for the too many sins of Americans.
God, as you know, was okay with slaves
and down with the slaughter of Indians.
(It was his plan — our stealing their land.
He said, “Do it and do not pester me.”
As true believers, we did as he bid.
We called it our Manifest Destiny.)
But a woman’s sovereignty over her body?
The notion of female equality?
Women are chattel, moreover, they prattle
and frequently fall into frivolity.
(We do permit them — under duress! —
provided, of course, they undress.)
Same-sex marriage? A sin. Which God deplores.
Though he never says so. Explicitly.
Fortunately, we, his chosen explorers
understand what he means. Implicitly.
(Sometimes it seems God hasn't a clue,
so we must tell him what he wants us to do.)
