And god is not listening
to you tonight

Tear-stained cheeks
knees bruised from rocking
on the hardwood floor
The words mouthed
over and over again

But god is not listening
to you tonight

He is indifferent
as the dead you
pray for

Deaf as my grandmother

So you would do
well to stand up,
wash your face
and stop asking
for absolution
from someone else

Because god is not listening
to you tonight

But don’t take it
too hard
or make it into
something else
to be miserable
about

For he is not listening
to anyone …
tonight
or any other

(D. James)