JESUS WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU’RE LOADED By David E. Poston

 

That’s what I thought I heard 

on the Sunday morning gospel radio, 

as I was driving back in just after sunrise,

and I pictured the Saturday night beer joint

with 72 arms, 36 heads, and an IQ 

of 12, as the riddle goes,

but with one lonely, weeping pilgrim

down at the end of the bar, ignored

by all the raucous sinners. Only 

Jesus is tending bar this night,

and he comes over and says unto him,

Don’t let your heart be troubled.

Let your misery go. Pass that cup to me and 

I’ll fill it ‘til it runs over. As long as I am here 

to serve, believe me, you’ll never be thirsty.  

Of course, what the sweet lady sang was 

when your load is too heavy to bear, 

which is precious and abiding comfort, 

to think of that humble carpenter

helping carry your load, as any 

good ole boy would do—shame on me 

for cheap redneck jokes—but I can see Him 

there, saying  Don’t worry. When you decide

you’ve had enough, I’ll take you home.

David E. Poston's work has appeared recently in Typehouse Literary Magazine, The Main Street Rag, North Carolina Literary Review, and Pembroke Magazine. He is a frequent book reviewer for Pedestal Magazine and a co-editor of Kakalak.