Theology II

This lie of ours
that holds us fast
is remarkable enough
to be admired on its own merits
even if it is a lie.  It’s
architectural, foundational;
it made a home for us inside.
It is grand and cozy as we need it to be
and even when we don’t believe,
it nags us into acting as if we do,
just in case.  Perhaps it was true once
and now it’s not?  In that case,
let’s give it its due and move on.
Let’s just say that Hell is dead,
and move out of its shadow
into the fields, away from
the crumbling walls.  Out there,
in the sunlight and the cool rain,
we can live publicly and openly,
thinking anew of sin and redemption —

and when the time is right,
we can talk then of the death
of Heaven, too.