whereas his spokesman
he allowed to be
raised in pharaoh's house
god chose for his own bed
a manger in bethlehem
the apostles witnessing
the condescension of christ
were the occupants of that stable
seeing the infant jesus
like their tender calf or lamb
suckling from mary's teat
and the god of the old book
the god who knew no parent
the cruel and vengeful yahweh
who compelled his chosen to war
came to have a mother
to be the feeble child
sentimental for her tenderness
he came to acquire mercy
for his creatures' limitations
and you who worry
that your devoted pets
cannot attain heaven
remember
the lord jesus
was a mammal
a man pulled out a short barreled gun
and forced me into the typical alley
to demand this poet's precious briefcase
you fool i said and opened the worn bag
to show him books magazines and extra pens
my diary-journal and notes on scraps of paper
there's nothing of real value in here
i'm a poet a thief just like you
unwilling to live at any dull job
he cursed his luck and started away
but i asked would you please buy my book
help me to be rich to devote more
time to writing
that's where you and me are different said the thief
if i'd the money i'd quit my trade
and he stole my book no honor among thieves
and I say unto you
thou hast exceeded the lord's mandate
you have multiplied
but no longer are you fruitful
the earth you consume and pollute
with your numbers
so many
that it is unseemly for the lord
to walk among your camps
it is more than can be buried
it is more than can be burned
and you have despoiled a world
that formerly enticed the visit of angels
now the stink of excess rises
even to the courtyards of heaven
and the lord said
i have given unto you dominion
over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air
over everything that moves
upon the earth
why then do you torture them
and press them into extinction
is this how you manage your vassals
would you have me rule my subjects
with as much indifference
and you say
who am i to speak on
the behalf of the lord
i am a son of abraham
the nephew of moses
the brother of jesus
have you not always accepted
the commandments of the lord
from reluctant messengers
born among the jews