Once Upon a Time

Topic : Easter

Once upon a time	And out walks Jesus
There was a God	All over again;
Who so loved the world	Out stalks the
That he gave his son	Grinning, striding Jesus.
His only son.	Tight-lipped
And they took that son	Little people
And they hung him on a cross	Hover all day
And that son died.	Around the tomb
And they buried the son—	And cover it with
Sealed him up tight.	Incense
But God said,	And bow before it
“Oh no you don’t”	And walk before it
And he rolled back the rock,	And sigh before it;
He unsealed his son	And pray to it
And his son came out,	And sing to it
Came out walking and breathing	And weep to it
And he was Alive.	And lean on it.
And he’s alive today	And weep to it
And he walks around	And lean on it.
And he stalks around	And no one
Breathing life and life	Notices
Every morning just before dawn	Or at least
For thousands of years	They pretend not
Little grim people—	To notice,
Preachers and bankers and	The living
Storekeepers and students—	Breathing
Sneak up to the grave and	Walking
Roll back the stone	Talking
To seal it up tight.	Jesus
And every morning	Out on the
God roars	Edge calling
“Oh no you don’t!”	“Hey!”
And he flings back the stone.	“Hey you!”

Lois Cheney, God Is No Fool, pp 115, 116