I Saw Jesus Poem by Chase Gagnon

I saw Jesus
on the corner of Lafayette and Chrysler
begging for change,
beard and all.
He didn't judge me
all those days I passed by
without a penny to give,
maybe because his eyes were fixed to the sky
scrapers that reached toward the kingdom
even he is beginning to doubt.

He used to hold cardboard signs
that read THE END IS NEAR!
like countless others on the corners,
except he was different...
he said that the end
is in five billion years, which is soon
to him and in the whole scheme of the universe.
But everyone passes without even donating a glance
on their way to work, the bus, or even church.

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is
just across the freeway,
sitting there with such a specific name
with such a specific group of people
who might be right
but probably aren't.
I've never seen Jesus walk in there.
'Matter of fact, I've only seen him walk once
across a puddle
that shone bright in the rainbow lights of Greektown
and the moon.

I should probably clear something up
I'm not talking about the son of God
just a Hispanic man named Jesús (or, hey-zues)
or at least that's what the tag on his dirty work shirt says.
But I wouldn't doubt if he is divine
not one bit.
He is a prophet
of the god(s) no one will ever understand,
who sleeps clenching cardboard scriptures
backed by pure science
which should coexist with our supernatural souls
housed in meager flesh that's only purpose is to rot.

Or maybe that's just my interpretation of his signs.