Hey You!!

Once upon a time
There was a God
Who so loved the world
That he gave his son
His only son.
And they took that son
And they hung him on a cross
And that son died.
And they buried the son—
Sealed him up tight.
But God said,
“Oh no you don’t”
And he rolled back the rock,
He unsealed his son
And his son came out,
Came out walking and breathing
And he was Alive.
And he’s alive today
And he walks around
And he stalks around
Breathing life and life

Every morning just before dawn
For thousands of years
Little grim people—
Preachers and bankers and
Storekeepers and students—
Sneak up to the grave and
Roll back the stone
To seal it up tight.

And every morning
God roars
“Oh no you don’t!”
And he flings back the stone.
And out walks Jesus
All over again;
Out stalks the
Grinning, striding Jesus.

Tight-lipped
Little people
Hover all day
Around the tomb
And cover it with
Incense
And bow before it
And walk before it
And sigh before it;
And pray to it
And sing to it
And weep to it
And lean on it.
And weep to it
And lean on it.
And no one
Notices
Or at least
They pretend not
To notice,
The living
Breathing
Walking
Talking
Jesus
Out on the
Edge calling
“Hey!
“Hey you!”

-- Lois Cheney, God Is No Fool pp 115, 116