New Poem: THIS SUNDAY MORNING

in churches throughout this nation
there will be hymns prayers Bible excerpts
the Lord's Prayer will be recited
a special performance from the choir
then the pastor's 20 minute sermon
>
how many ministers will gather their courage
take the risk of some members walking out in disgust
if the sermon is about President Donald Trump
and how un-Christian behavior
such as racism and anti-Semitism
demonizing foreign refugees
plus far too much rendering unto Caesar
are moral diseases infecting the mind and heart
>
what will parishioners see and hear this Sunday morning
Jesus will be watching with great interest

New poem: PRODIGAL CHILD

the minister's sermon
on the parable of the Prodigal Son
was meant to create a force field
to hold back young parishoners
from a future of long haired rebellion
>
yea, the minister preached,
the brothers and sisters
standing in hallways
shouting at parents
(who shouted back)
telling them about
wanting so much
to be in control
>
control over
eating drinking smoking
believing in God
going to college
going to war
leaving hometown
for another country
if necessary
>
they are prodigal
they are wrong
and one day they will come home
beg for forgiveness
from God and man
get a haircut
wear sensible clothes
find a good job
>
I sat through the sermon
at the age of ten
wanting the church service
to end soon
so we could go to the drugstore
>
all through the closing hymn,
I thought of buying a small Coke
from the vending machine
near the candy counter