Jesus is the Reason

Our grieving games commenced in the fall

& the competition's remained fierce all

Through the season what are they saying

When they say Jesus is the Reason anyway

Are they saying he's responsible for everything

Or are they saying he's why they are who they

Are and why they do what they do I don't know

All I know is next time I see one of them

I should ask them what they mean & surely they

Will tell me so I'll know something about their

Feelings about why they are painting Jesus is

The Reason on their barns & flying Jesus is the Reason on banners on their cars & slipping

Little cards saying Jesus is the Reason inside

Pockets in coats in malls and inside pages of

Books in libraries & schools & placing Jesus is

The Reason placards on public transportation &

Wearing Jesus is the Reason buttons on the straps

Of their bags & having Jesus is the Reason tattooed

On their arms & burning Jesus is the Reason into

Scars on their wrists & weaving Jesus is the Reason Into rugs & writing Jesus is the Reason on the

Margins of their checks & stirring Jesus is the

Reason drops in their nightcaps & sewing Jesus

Is the Reason inside collars of their shirts &

Raising Jesus is the Reason flags on their lawns

& engraving Jesus is the Reason inside the lids

Of their coffins so that grieving leaves no room

For error so that this way they have their bases

Covered & can tilt evenly forward toward the next

Round of tournaments Jesus is the Reason for.

Copyright World Poetry, Incorporated Mar/Apr 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved