Kickball and Brimstone

We line the recess fence,

metaphorical lambs 

being led to what I hope 

is only metaphorical slaughter

The whispers begin,

even before the captains

commence the long-winded

explanation of rules

If you kick the ball

with the wrong foot,

Jerry claims,

God boots you off

his team immediately

(I didn’t even know

there was a wrong foot)

They say there was a time, 

adds Pearl, 

God drowned his whole team

for not listening, 

except for just one family 

and a couple giraffes

(The stakes were higher

than I thought)

Satan starts with his rules

“Eh. Whatever.”

(Oh, or maybe not)

But God pulls out a book

that brings groans 

from its sheer size

(I got lost in the begats

and admittedly tuned out

for a time)

I love you, 

but if you don’t do it right,

God’s deep voice demanded,

your body will be kept alive 

and scorched for eternity

(Somehow I wasn’t feeling

all warm and fuzzy)

Satan’s eyes gleamed

at the burning part

(A bunch of pyromaniacs)

I decided I didn’t want 

to play after all

Written June 30, 2020