The Bureaucrat at Heaven's Door, Parts I and II


    Part 1 - Salvation dialogue

    If it needed a passport, she said
    last bite of fettucine primavera
    open sesame, password
    special dispensation
    to get in, I would not want it
    would spurn salvation
    (the salad needs balsamic,
    the bread is stale)

    I have the knowledge, said the other
    teacher of bible studies, tuesdays
    for recalcitrant adults, sundays children
    four and up, pre-registration required
    unless you say the words, deeds, good or
    otherwise, will not suffice, not get you in,
    identification at the door
    (my coffee's cold,
    the lettuce wilted)

    mint jello, house tiramisu?
    the bureaucrat at heaven's door
    please take a number and a seat
    you're very important
    to us, welcome to the gates of heaven
    we'll validate your parking ticket
    no storming countenanced


    Part 2 - Your call is very ... to us, please stay on the line

    you take a number, here's a bench
    the latest magazines to read,
    for the salvation of your wicked soul
    'Can You Avoid Reincarnation,'
    'Why Churches Fail,' 'Modesty and the Single Girl,'
    'Twelve Rings to Hell and More Each Day'

    you need five forms of identification
    four people that can vouch for you, no relatives
    one each from Column A and Column B
    the entrance fee prepaid, no checks allowed
    all earthly joy desire passion striving
    for the final prize
    long gone, the kingdom overbooked
    we sold out early, call again

    Appreciate your patronage!
    Door closed.




    Bio Note
      Born Silvia Antonia Brandon Pérez in La Habana, Cuba, in 1949, February. Mother of four sons and one daughter; poetically afflicted from the age of 12. Editor of Spanish edition of Niederngasse, a bilingual poetry magazine which appears online and is printed twice a year. Literary award from University of Puerto Rico for prose poem, 'Lluvia en negro.' Poetry in English published in Niederngasse, Avalon, A Writer's Choice Literary Journal, The Writer's Quill, 2nd River View, The Thin Wire Journal, The Crystal Oasis.