Challenging One's Notion Of God Poem by Raj Arumugam

1
full of faith and belief
I prayed and prayed;
and at long last God
(don’t imagine a He or She)
said to me:
“I’m moved by your faith.
Is there something you’d like? ”

I shook my head.

And God smiled
and said:
“Would you like
some gold, oil and money? ”

“No, ” I said
and prayed and prayed.

“A never-ending supply
of food, perhaps? ”
asked God.

“No, no, ” I said,
and prayed and prayed.
“The gift of poetry, perhaps? ”
asked God.

“No, no, never that.
What, you want to ruin me? ”
I said,
and prayed and prayed.

“Wealth? Fame?
A good obedient wife
who can’t speak, perhaps? ”
said good God.

“No, no, “
I said
and prayed and prayed.

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“Shall I, ” offered God,
“remove all suffering
from the world? ”

“No, ” I said.
“The world’s already used to it.”
And I prayed and prayed.

“Look, you must tell me
what you want, ”
said God, now appearing a little irritated.

“Oh well, if you insist, ”
I said.
“I want your job.”

And God disappeared
as fast as speedy Gonzales.