Evening Observation By the Quad
He stands on a stone bench near the bookstore,
Bible in one hand.
The other, outstretched, beckons the passing students.
“He died for your sins!”
They walk around him.
“When was the last time you considered in your heart…”
The 6 o’clock chimes drown him out as a young woman
taps past, her white cane skirting the bench.
“Won’t you listen to me? Won’t you hear?”
Four girls sit on the bench at his feet. He smiles at them.
“Will you humble yourselves, or will you go to oblivion?”
The girls stand. One glances up at him, speaks.
“Oblivion Newton John–isn’t she a singer?”
Smile frozen, he turns away,
steps off the bench.
Disappears into the passing crowd.
Tags: Bible, loss of faith, oblivion, observations, Olivia Newton-John, prosylitizing
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February 9, 2013 at 8:03 pm
This is a good poem… it ignited my urge to rant but I’m going resist temptation, kick my soap box out of reach and just comment to say that.
February 9, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Love this slice of life, the humor and darkness. Bravo!
February 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Wow, a bravo! I feel like I’m on a stage and just did really well! Thank you;-)
February 9, 2013 at 2:11 pm
This is a good observational poem. You depict both the persistence of the evangelistic and the oblivious sarcasm of the girl quite well.
Nicely done.
February 10, 2013 at 11:42 am
Thank you!
February 10, 2013 at 12:58 pm
No, you go right ahead and get that soap box under those feet and rant. I love you ranting. See, another idea for one of your posts!;-)