Shema
The following poem is based on an earlier poem called “I Have Given Evil A Name.” That poem will remain in the archives, but consider it scratched. The middle section of that poem was by far the strongest, so I took it out and made it stand on its own.
Our God who razed the Mosques, burning God
of witches, Lord inquisitive God of Spain,
our God the Crusader, God the Jew hater,
God, the owner of slaves.
God the Warmonger, God the Oppressor,
righteous God who abhors the gays.
God the Conservative, God the Liberal,
God we worship and praise.
God our provider, our corporate sponsor,
God our father, God we love and obey.
God of our basketball or football or baseball team,
be on our side as we play, as we fight
for your hallowed name! May your kingdom come,
your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven,
Hear O America, the Lord our God, the Lord
is One. The Lord does not change.
