a persistent
young
strip mall preacher
from down
the street
had imposed
himself
on aunt bea
while she was
having
her
afternoon tea
most folks
in the neighborhood
know
that’s
her sacred time
when she
ponders the wonders
of
just still being alive
it’s a time
that i never visit
unless invited
so
the conversation
i’m about
to convey
to you
was
well
overheard
by
a concerned
neighbor
it was reported
that
after
an hour-long
verbal onslaught
about
heaven and hell
aunt bea
calmly
asked
now according
to
your text
god
is all-knowing
yes ma’am
and
according
to
your text
when we die
and
go to heaven
we don’t recall
our earthly life
yes ma’am
that’s the true gospel
well child
aunt bea
said
if god’s all-knowing
and
we don’t recall
what we did when
we were on earth
why
do we have to go
through all this hell on earth
seems to me
the whole thing
was
rigged
from the get-go
so
being rewarded
or
punished
for
something
you can’t recollect
is
just plain silly
or
cruel
now
the only thing
reported after
those
comments
were
some quick shuffling steps
away
from
aunt bea’s
porch
