Pray only under a clear night sky

to see in the depths of the stars,

how far off and away

stretches the ever expanding

responsibilities of God.

Pray not beneath that limiting canopy

of days blue sky,

that cocoon enclosing

your needs,

your fears,

narrowing your hopes and His possible replies

only to those favorable

to your limited requests.

THEN,

Cradle your faith loosely

for though it substantiates,

provides evidence for your expectations,

it ought not always grant forgiveness

for ALL your motivations.

Beware as it oozes

out from under your cathedral’s door,

turning neighboring streets

into rivers of tar,

trapping your neighbor

(who you are enjoined to love)

in a deep Luray,

his choices limited to your answer key

from where you leap the chain of consequences,

ending in the 4-square position

of self-justified inquisition,

piling for kindling

dogmatic faggots for the flames

as the damned heritics stumble,

moaning, toward the byre,

your congregants choir

chanting hallelujahs.