God Questions Jake

Then the Lord answered Jake out of the storm
“Now, stand up like a man,
I’ll ask you a question—
Where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?”

I was at the 7-11
buying a slurpee
and eyeing the dirty magazines
behind the counter.

I was half-asleep
on my mothers couch
watching Maury Povich.

“Where were you
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God cheered them on?”

I was at the end of the bar
half-way through my third tall-boy
singin’ Billy Joel’s Piano Man
vaguely eying a rugby match
I didn’t understand.

I was comfortable
under a flannel blanket
in Simpson’s pajamas
in an air conditioned room
surrounded by stuff I don’t need.

Who are you that you would call Me out?

I’m nobody,
but if you want an answer,
I guess I’m the guy
in the third row, on the aisle
listening to a sermon on Job
feeling nothing
but confused and uncomfortable.