(To the tune of the brilliant song ‘When I’m not near the girl I love‘ from the classic musical Finnian’s Rainbow, lyrics by Yip Harburg and music by Burton Lane, which inspired this poem)

When I’m… not with… the God… of love…
I love
the “god”*
I’m with

When I… won’t see… the Christ in… the other… (Matthew 25)
I smother
the Christ
in me

When I… don’t carry… with patience… my cross…
I’m cross! too
impatient
to care!

When all… my tears… to Jesus… I offer…
He offers
to wipe
my tears (Revelation 2:14)

Dare dream I… surrender… my life plans… to God
My God plans
To render
His Dream…
His Dream for me!

***

*i.e. false god