You

You!
by Michael R. Burch

For thirty years You have not spoken to me;
I heard the dull hollow echo of silence
as though strange communion between us.

For thirty years You would not open to me;
You remained closed, hard and tense,
like a clenched fist.

For thirty years You have not broken me
with Your alien ways,
prevarications and distance.

Like a child dismissed,
I have watched You prey upon the hope in me,
knowing "mercy" is chance

and "heaven"�"a list.

Originally published by "The Bible of Hell" (anthology). NOTE: I call mercy “chance” and heaven a “list” because the bible says its “god” predestines some people to be “vessels of mercy” and others to be “vessels of destruction.” Thus mercy is reduced to the chance of birth and heaven is a precompiled list of the lucky few. Of course there is no reason to believe in such a diabolical “god” or such an unjust “heaven” ... but billions have, and do. Keywords/Tags: Christian, Christianity, God, Bible, faith, hope, love, salvation, heaven, hell, mercy, grace, communion