Rapture Deferred
I woke that morning, I recall,
Surprised somewhat I woke at all –
And out my window, plain to see,
My street was smoky-ruins-free.
In fact, so fine a morning shone,
My coat I had no call to don –
The larks still sang, the doves still perched,
And nowhere sulphur rained, nor zombies lurched.
I walked on through that wrathless dawn,
Alive ! Alive and springing !
I gaped for lack of demon-spawn,
Alive ! Alive and swinging !
I fed the ducks, I named the clouds,
I mingled with bewildered crowds –
We wore no coats, we wore no shrouds,
Alive ! Alive and singing !
Our lives would never be the same,
That day that Jesus never came.
I gawped that morning, hollered out,
Surprised I had the breath to shout
I danced with gnats, I waltzed with trees,
I hugged the rain and kissed the breeze.
I cried with strangers, wept with folk,
I stuttered ev’ry word I spoke –
I didn’t care, I couldn’t mind,
I thanked the Lord that I was left behind.
I ran on through that wretchless day,
Alive ! Alive and wheeling !
I laughed for lack of human prey,
Alive ! Alive and reeling !
I leapt, I skipped or simply stood,
I didn’t care for ought or should –
I sang and sang because I could,
Alive ! Alive and feeling !
Our lives were ours ! There was no shame,
That day that Jesus never came.
Rhyming Couplets 