Scarlet's Poetry Den - Litany of Scars - Notes to a Missing Lover

Scarlet's Poetry Den

"Litany of Scars - Notes to a Missing Lover"

Jesus Lives in a Yellow Balloon (Listen to the poem in RealAudio G2)

"Jesus lives in a yellow balloon."

The child's glowshine smile dismissed my cynical smirk, her tiny fingers pointing to the sun. She jumped up and down on the bus seat: "Jesus lives there." Her mother looked embarrassed. I had to turn away.

The future sandcastletumble of her simple faith fills me with pain. I wonder how heaven was twisted into a ball of fire.

Child, you will see Jesus tossed around like a volleyball. Yes, he is a Jew/Catholic/Protestant/gentile, etc. Saviour/prophet/martyr/suicide/madman/teacher, etc.

Pick a Jesus! Any Jesus! Salvation today!

He's been resurrected umpteen times, each new life bringing some kind of war.

But, Child, Jesus also lives in a bottle - any alcoholic know that. Veins found many AIDS/hepatitis needles poked into them when what they really wanted was "Jesus." Jesus lives in bawdy houses, at Wal-Mart and in banks.

When I was small, Jesus lived in the attic: he had to, to hear my prayers. My best friend thought he was a tree. That kind of Jesus faded with all the other ghosts in the attic and my faery tales.

Child, I wish I could tell you these things, but I can't. I can only pray for you and hope you find the real Jesus.

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