Creation Story
for Axel

after a good, long
almost eternal snooze
God finally woke
feeling delightfully refreshed

shall I draw back the curtains?
asked Archangel Gabriel

yes, please, Gabs
replied God

so Gabriel drew back the curtains
but the view that greeted them
was null and
the view was void

what would you like to see?
asked the angel

and God closed their eyes for a while
picturing the most magnificent sight they could conjure

a rainbow
replied God

and there was light
and water
and a rainbow shone through the darkness
arching and aching with beauty

and God saw that it was good

are you ready for some breakfast now?
asked the angel

God mused inwardly for a while
licking their sacred lips
and rolling their holy tongue

I think I’d like a mango, please, Gabs
said God

and there was earth
and air
and bees
and worms
and seeds
and an exquisite garden
blooming with innocence and abundance

and in the middle of the garden
there stood a mango tree
beaming with sun-infused fruit

oh my word, Gabs
said God
this tastes even better
than I imagined

and would you like to explore
what you have just created?
asked the angel

and God wracked their brain
and suddenly
out of nothing and nowhere
there appeared a bicycle

good God! God declared
how on earth will that thing
stay upright with my weight
upon it?

Gabriel smiled
and helped God get their leg over the cross bar
and briefly explained the function
of the pedals
and the handlebars
and the bell

and so
ripe, half-eaten mango in hand
God set off
at first wobbling this way and that
but soon enough
they got the hang of it
and found their heavenly flow

and before long God was
shrieking and howling and singing out loud
with mango-dribbling-rainbow-riding-bell-ringing-free-wheeling
sacramental delight

oh my, Gabs
shouted God
this is sooooooo good

so damn good
it’d be a shame not to share it

and the angel
simply smiled again
and knelt down
upon the hallowed ground

and from its depths scooped up a wet lump
of sticky and expectant
clay