Believe and you Shall Receive

For my sister, it was Anna
turning bluer day by day
she died at seven months
no matter how my sister prayed
But for me it was the kitten
silky soft and gray
the epiphany of innocence
left alone on the freeway
I got off at the next exit
trusting as I prayed,
“God, let me save the kitten;
please keep the cars at bay.”

But the kitten was smashed

when I got back

as was my faith

All those years of Sunday school
let out their final breath
that day on the freeway
my faith coming to rest
For my sister, it was Anna
approached with a mustard seed
faith supposed to move mountains
tumbling down, harrowing
Now we whisper of the past
and how we once believed
and how, all our lives we were lied to
how those steeples do deceive