It was obvious
(but not to us)
the age was bust
bankrupt
nothing but just
a heap of clothes
worn maybe once
then left outside
the Donations door
at Value Village.

Then along comes a prince
(of sorts)
with a sickly crown
royally to smack us down.
We’re all in the doghouse now
because the Godhouse
and the shopping mall are bound
shut like a bad wound
in the days before
medical supply shortages.

This prophet
tells us to rough it
in our apartments
alone for a while.
Pity the children
with nowhere to run
and with grandparents
in the belly of the fish.
This prophet
tells it as it is;
hard hope to hold on to
with hands cracked
by constant washing
and trained to keep off
objects touched by others.
Hard hope but worth it
because this prophet
does not lie—
“Believe it”, he cries.
“A kingdom is standing by
just waiting for us to try."