Dear God
I asked for a million dollars
a career a reputation
a marriage
a fine house by the sea
and you gave me restless feet
a life of wandering
the infinite path of myself
I asked to see the rest of the road
you said watch your feet
I asked for a guru
you gave me a blood-red rose
I asked for freedom
you took away everything I had
I asked for a savior
you said listen to the drumming
in your heart
I asked for a sign
you said here's the cliff
step off it
I asked for the answer to the mystery
you said sorry, start again
I asked to stop asking
you gave me another question
I asked to be a great spiritual leader
revered by the masses
and you pushed me down in the street
on my face
in front of everybody
I asked for enlightenment
And you rubbed my face in the dark
until I could see nothing
but light
I ask for a new coat
And you give me the wind
I ask to be wise
And you show me
my empty heart
I ask to be loving
and you show me the wall
around my soul
I ask to put an end to suffering
you show me the demon in the mirror
I tell you
I'm in a hurry
and where the hell do I
catch the next train
you give me a lizard
sunning its back
I ask for an ordinary life
And you give me the universe
from Reinventing Fire
Chapbook, 36 pps
Wild Spiral Press,
San Francisco