The God of Mercy

“rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”

“the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”

Some people want all poetry to be

Like Bambi sans the death of mother, their

Theology to be completely free

Of Ananias and Sapphira, flare

Of sentimental love alone.  In John’s

Apocalypse vast groups are struck down, FLASH,

And crudely slaughtered instantly like pawns

In some Surreal catastrophe.  That bash

Is better than God’s other slaughters in

That book since others killed are burned to crisps,

Those fires forever.  God, Who hates the sin,

Toasts people in ascending smoky wisps.

  Thus souls struck down in ancient O. T. times

    Are paltry when compared to N. T. crimes.

May 5, 2026