Sign

SIGN


HE WOKE ONE MORNING BEFORE DAWN
AND IN THE QUIET
AND LONELINESS OF THE HOUR
SAID
GOD
GIVE ME A SIGN THAT YOU DO EXIST
BUT NO ANSWER CAME

BUT A MILLION CELLS
LIVED
DIED
REPRODUCED

AT DAWN
THE SUN CAME UP
WITH MATHEMATICAL PRECISION
AND COLORS
THAT CHALLENGE AN ARTIST’S PALETTE

AND QUIETLY
A MILLION CELLS
LIVED
DIED
REPRODUCED
WHILE HE WALKED THE EARTH
HELD IN PLACE BY GRAVITY

GIVE ME A SIGN
THAT I MIGHT BELIEVE IN YOU
HE CRIED
WHILE TIDES
AND PLANETS
MOVED
TO SCHEDULE

LIKE A SLAVE
LONGING FOR THE EVENING SHADOWS
OR A HIRED MAN
WAITING EAGERLY
FOR HIS WAGES
HE WAITED FOR A SIGN
AS THE EARTH PUSHED BACK
WITH FORCE EQUAL TO HIS WEIGHT
SO HE WOULD NOT SINK INTO THE GROUND


HE WAS A GOOD MAN
HE LOVED HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
HE DID NOT QUESTION THE SOURCE OF THAT LOVE
IT WAS JUST THERE
HE WAS AN HONORABLE MAN
WHO WORKED TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD
AND NEVER QUESTIONED THE SOURCE OF THAT IMPULSE
THERE WERE TIMES HE FELT AN INCREDIBLE LONELINESS
AND DID NOT KNOW WHY
LOST IN A FOREST
HE SAW NO TREES

WITH NIGHT
CAME THE WONDER
OF SUNSET AND EVENING SKY
AND HE REPEATED HIS MORNING PRAYER
HE DID NOT HEAR THE WHISPERINGS ALL AROUND HIM
AND RETIRED
DISAPPOINTED AGAIN



FRANK A VOLLMER