I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Genesis 9:13-16

When the world was about to end
During the Cuban Missile Crisis
I sought wisdom and comfort
From the only book my father ever read

It had worked before
Hammered spikes into palms and feet
And bloody thorned crowns
Put my petty woes into perspective

I thought I would someday be a priest
And martyrdom appealed
It seemed like a good life
Attentive mother, adoring crowds

Some pain at the end but
The power of prayer would
Get me through that

However

Doubt had crept in lately
Impure thoughts, sinful hand
How could that hand ever be used
To bless my congregation?

Luckily Kruschev came along
And helped me center my thoughts
On fiery death

Father Daugherty sermonized
That we had lost favor with God
If the end was nigh…well
We had it coming.

The Parish scheduled
Extra confessions

Knowing God had done this before,
I read the account of Noah
And even as I tried to force Devil Doubt out
Something had shifted

Why Noah? He was that good?
And all the other good people just happened to be related?
No others? What about babies?
And the boat? How big was it?
Two of each animal? Even flies?

But what got to me most was
The rainbow bit and how it will
Remind God not to end the earth again
By water.

Wow. What a concession.

And he has to be reminded of that!
If a rainbow appears, then God remembers

How did the rainbow appear?
Didn’t God put it there?
And how could he forget?

I sat there awhile and then it
Occurred to me that
God’s maybe not that bright

The world did not end.

And yet

It did.

 

Throughout November I am writing a poem every day as part of an effort to raise funds for The Center For New Americans. If you like the poems (or even if you don’t) and would like to support this fantastic organization, please follow this link. Thanks.