A procession of penitents
wanders like a column of
sleepwalkers into the town
where they’ve been told
the Benevolent One resides.
Sprinklers water tidy lawns
in front of synagogues and
banks, shopping malls,
a football stadium and
other places of worship.
A runty dog guides the
flock toward Paradise, but has
to run for its life when the pilgrims
find a cardboard sign taped
to the Benevolent One’s front door:
“Gone fishing,” it says;
“Back soon.”
© J.M.Keating 2013