Next Testament

AUTHOR: Sage Francis







"Find God!" exclaimed the man, who lost everything he owned, looking stoned







I groaned back, "Find a jobÔÇŞhereÔÇÖs an application."







Retaliation:







"HereÔÇÖs a pamphlet."







I said, "Fuck this damn shit."







My man flipped







and threw his hand into his pocket.







Pulled out a bible







with a design that looked tribal







The Next Testament was its title







"Look it over."







"A book? NosuhÔÇŞwhat the hell does this have to offer?"







A small mirror on the bottom labeled "author"ÔÇŞ







thatÔÇÖs too impersonal







Irreversible







actions leave our mind scarred







looking for the answers. "Find God!"







he said again.







But IÔÇÖm a veteran







knowing that you are no better than







or worse than.







He compared my last enemy to my first friend.







This bum gave me his shirtÔÇÖs pen







"What the heck?







YouÔÇÖre completely tapped, thinking that IÔÇÖm gonnaÔÇÖ write you out a check."







He said, "What?" I said, "WHAT!" Snatched the book in hopes of finding







a myth. Lifted up the front coverÔÇŞbroke the binding.







"I bring peace, love happiness and unity!"







Usually I blow it off, but I said, "That ainÔÇÖt what you do to me. What you do to me







is bring pain, hate, ignorance, and false alternatives to my community."







He sat back and thought it over.







With a look thatÔÇÖs sort of sober







He stared me in the eye and saidÔÇŞI donÔÇÖt lieÔÇŞ







(Him or me? Me or him?)







Now we begin







to quarrel







over whatÔÇÖs historical







but thatÔÇÖs immoral







questioning the oracleÔÇÖs origin.







WeÔÇÖre born through sin.







"You need to save yourself," he said.







"But Jesus died for our sins." Then he said, "He ainÔÇÖt dead."







"He faked his death?"







I watched my man take a breath







as if he had no more patience left.







Then he embraced his chest.







Looked as if the holy spirit was about to manifest







itself.







Mental health







is what he lacked. I should have known this.







Without God, when we die every Earthling is homeless.







I couldnÔÇÖt look. Tried to give him back his book.







As he shook. But it was stuck to my hand







What the fÔÇŞGod dÔÇŞ







Embellished in sin and with a devilish grin







This denizen could tell that I was selfish within







He started speaking in tongues that IÔÇÖm unfamiliar with.







I held the pen like a knife and threatened, "I kill your myth!"







Civilians drift







into a state of violent anger.







I can tell when IÔÇÖm in danger







so I stoppedÔÇŞto take a breather.







"Listen, IÔÇÖm a non-believer







with no faith, and I donÔÇÖt want none either







itÔÇÖs time for me to leave yaÔÇÖ







take your book,







I ainÔÇÖt no crook."







He said, "ItÔÇÖs yoursÔÇŞlike the worldÔÇŞread it goodÔÇŞthereÔÇÖs directions."







I flipped through the pages, but they were blankÔÇŞno deceptions.







He mentioned, "Look deeper. YouÔÇÖll see it says more







than you could share. I asked, "Where?" He replies, "ThatÔÇÖs what



the



penÔÇÖs for."