WAITING ROOM

God's garage is busy today

The mechanics in white are at their jobs:

            repairing broken people

           diagnosing design flaws

           removing old parts

           inserting new parts

The waiting room is crowded,

Families are huddled in tight circles.

They proclaim optimistic slogans

to banish the black bats of fear:

            "Don't worry!"

            "It will all be fine"

            "It will be over soon"

Clouds of prayer pass overhead,

prayers to many different Gods

Which one will be most merciful?

At last the Chief Mechanic arrives

like a priest, adorned

with the Holy Ear on his chest

to proclaim the verdict:

            Success!

            or

            Needs to be overhauled.

            or

            Warranty expired.