Easter Sunday Poem

A Prayer for Atheists

Easter Morning

Good morning God/it’s us, the Human Race/We regret we declared you dead

It was premature because/it seems/We still need you up ahead

In our defense, let it be said/we are your creatures

You made us/In a moment of youthful experimentation

A jest of God/ flawed/ and that’s on you

So forgive us our trespass/We know it was stupid/but we were just following

The intellectuals/who led us astray/It is always they

who get us into trouble

And just like last time/we’re in dire straits/fearing our own shadow

We need some simple rules we can follow without fail

because the words we use have shattered and become obtuse

So, for goodness’s sake don’t tell us to love/our enemies

As we love ourselves/you see we don’t love ourselves

That’s the entire problem/we’re hollow and shallow

And forget forgiveness/we cannot forgive what happened

At that Covid Easter four years ago/When our minders/lost their minds

And with one low blow/they persecuted/shamed/corralled/locked down

Our lives

We, the sheeple, were bleeding/And not a single lamb of God among us

Lord, we ask you, since they have not repented/how can there be forgiveness

So lost is your flock that some atheists are returning to your fold

Or so I am told

You may not want them nor care/Maybe they can’t find you any/way, crying

Lord, are you still there?

Forgive us who cannot forgive

You promised to send Jesus back to earth/A Second Coming can’t be far off

But would He kiss our tormentors/on the lips/As He kissed the Grand Inquisitor?

Forgiveness is the only way out

Of the blood dimmed tide/the devout

Know this

But how can we forgive those /Who do not repent?

You rose but we are still in torment/we have not risen

It will take a miracle of Faith

To be forgiven

Christ Ascendant, Mathias Gruenewald