I Asked for a Sign
By Brandy Clark
I asked for a sign
and I got one in the molded shape
of a man, frayed bottoms
of his khaki shorts
stopping right above
his skinned and scabby knees.
Rough working hands
with rough working fingers
held a wooden stick—
fresh-cut, raw, bleeding sap.
Poster board mounted on stick,
hand drawn on it, finger drawn crooked,
its arc pointing at me,
at everyone who walked by
this campus transplant
and copy of all campus preachers
who came before him
Shaky Sharpie letters
written below the hand
GOD IS ANGRY AT YOU
for ________ (fill in the blank
pick a word, any word)
whores, you’re all whores and sinners,
repent, repent, repent, and go on,
insert other religious clichés here
it’s all the […]