Ten Hail Marys

The crossword puzzle boy
Looked cross-eyed
At the cross:
“Jesus,
What the devil Is wrong with me?"
Shadow made null
In the throes of nights unforgiving,
The boy kneels alone…
Hands bound or clasped;
Opportunities obscured
As do clouds to the sun
By a world of men
Limited to see a rain man
In the place of a boy who waved at trains
And would do so still
If only he could win
Not lose
Go up
Not down….
Jesus looked puzzled
Hanging there
And asked to have the hair
On his chinny chin chin
Scratched…
No,
shaved entirely.
Jesus then scoffed
Between coughs
And declared his own problems
Too overwhelming…
And even so,
Either he didn’t even exist
Or he didn’t intervene
In the affairs of men.
If only he could win
Not lose
Go up
Not down….
“Now say ten hail marys,
My son,
And fetch me a carafe
Of that communion wine,
Will ya?”
The crossword puzzle boy
Tendered the wine
Made the sign of the cross
And left the church behind;
Jesus imbibing,
Giggling,
Sobbing …
“Thank you, rain man.
Definitely….”