Entertainment Of The Gods Poem by robert dickerson

The Gods, if you believe in them,
surely invented human life
for their own regalement.
I suspect they'd regret
the singing, the strife
our pretty performances-
had they nothing to watch
but the clouds and the tides;
had they nothing to feel
but the bare winds' knife
on the back of their necks.

How they must chuckle to see
us agreeing to agree
with each others' notions:
Sweet predicament of love-
which may last a lifetime, after all;
to believe things important to believe
'I'll believe you if you believe me';
occasionally even deeming
belief in anothers' importanter
than having his own believed.
'Check this out', they lean and point and say.

Truly, it must be cathartic
for those outside of time
to watch us all the day
striking each other beggars' bargains
that sometimes pay, or prove,
at end, too difficult to pay.
Love miscarried, happiness waylaid-
secure in the knowledge
no matter how lousy the play
the curtain will fall, the players sublime
and they'll be away