Divine Trinity
by Jack Ritter


Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva -
sit eternally on lotuses.

Shiva destroys the universe quite often.
He has as many arms as it takes.
Plus one, to hold a mirror.

Brahma rebuilds it all when needed.
He has four heads and four arms.
That seems about right.

Between Big Bang and Big Finish
sits blue Vishnu,
who symbolizes energy,
and shores up each new grain of now.

Iris and Murray Klughart of Yonkers
don't symbolize anything.
Neither do their children.

All their marriage the Klugharts saved
for a trip to the Taj Mahal.
But each still secretly fears
the other will be disappointed.

They pray their kids will have more.

Iris lights up the place when anyone calls.
Murray lights up a dreadful cigar,
sits back like a voice zoologist,
and fully hears her song.

The creature is in full cackle.
He'll tell her what the doctor said.

Tomorrow.

They are no one
and their aching backs
prop up every axis,
atom,
and out-of-work deity.

Iris always cries when she reads Emily Dickinson.
Iris laughs in her sleep.
Iris.

The Klugharts loved the Taj so much,
Shiva dropped his mirror.






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