God is Like a Waitress in the Sky

God is like a waitress in the sky
who has worked
at the local diner 
for as long as you can remember.

She stands patiently at your side.
pen and pad in hand
while you pour over a long list of menu items
that seems to go on forever.

If you aren’t ready,

She’ll come back
give you time
to get yourself together.

Sometimes small talk leads
to confessions,
which She absorbs
like the grease on her rumpled white apron.

She may try steering you clear
of less savory options,
which you can choose to ignore

because that’s your prerogative.

She doesn’t much care what you order
but that you order something,
after all
you are taking up valuable real estate.

When you’re ready

She jots down your selection
and goes away 
for a while.

You never know for how long
but when you’re really hungry,
it seems to take
forever.

Sometimes

She plans it that way
to build character because
that’s Her prerogative.

When your order arrives
it may look and smell and taste
just the way you like;
that makes you happy.

Or it might look and smell and taste
terrible
which makes you mad.

This is NOT what I asked for! you complain.

But She knows better.

With a smile, 
and an imperceptible roll of the eyes

She turns, 
and walks back to the kitchen.

​

Egerton Community Literary Magazine, Fall 2019

Winner of Reader’s Choice Award