The Messenger

Written
1993

 The tide of dreaded plague laps at my stoop.

But it means me no harm.

It is meant for others.

It will pass me by.

A terrible plague,

       but it is not for me.

God meant it for those who sin.

Those men of the mysterious

       and sinful sex.

Those women whose sex

      is without mystery.

Those who plumb pleasure

      into their veins.

Those quilted into history.

Those strangers to me.

I wish the dreaded plague

       would go away,

      but God's Will be done.   

I have hardened my heart.

I understand God's anger.

But it is not at me. 

Can another truth

      of the plague be told?

Maybe the child is messenger.

For what sins

       has the Golden Child?

Lightening rod for sunshine,

      she warms our life.

She is the laughter maker

       and the wonderer

       at stars and flowers.

This child who is a giver

       and taker of endless love  

       with the innocence of spring.

What mysterious guilt

      has she hidden so well?

None, of course,

      for even the hardened heart

      can find no guilt?

If the plague has found her,

       perhaps it is also for me!

Maybe she was sent

       to tell my hardened heart that

       plagues are for all of us.

The sins

      we think should be punished

      are not ours to decide.

Maybe that is the solemn message

       from this child. 


 

Notes
The idea that disaster was God's punishment made no sense to me. I had to think about those who least deserved the disaster to believe that the plague or a earthquake were punishment for sinners. And there are sure lots of folks who so believe.