The Book God
By Kathleen Young-Maple

God is strutting through the library / all must turn
Distinguished wrinkled face Simple Hair in some places
Tall lean body crooked bony legs
Carried by feet, wrapped loosely in Birkenstocks
Gliding over ancient carpet aged bare
Toward his corner glass mansion / status is confirmed

God is the One, chosen to choose / life or death
Keeper of the book selection slips, towering
And deep, as his white ivory mind
Checking the contents for content in each written life
His values are not yours
He hands out death wisely / mercy is shown

God has climbed a mountain / down there somewhere
Taking with him brown bread sandwiches and dark chocolate
Conquering the "High One"
Public Display, pinpoints the place
Of going, that turned to returning / home

God is obsessed with one named Horace / Kep something
In death: Scholar, author, outdoorsman
God longs to share his own words about this mortal sinner
"Who the hell was Horace?"
Soon to be published 2005
Commonalities with God ? Unknown

God is in love with his instrument / not that one
His sweet notes play privately for his angels
The Book God believes
"Libraries are open only for bagpipe competitions"
Quick to proclaim the truth
God wears a skirt / if he wants to

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"Book God" at the Library of Congress
Photo by John Symons