When the World Goes Right

By David James

Your wife shall be like a fruitful
vine within your house,
your children like olive shoots
round about your table. (Psalm 128)

your dog becomes a genius of the backyard
& dinner each night is prepared
warm and steaming on the counter
when you arrive home from work
& even work has changed
the raise, though well deserved, is surprising --
a doubling of your salary
someone has nominated you
for employee of the decade
your mutual funds careen through the market
a 250% increase in six months
everything you touch turns
to green, gold, to pure diamonds
& then your hair grows back
to fill in the bald spots
your stomach disappears
turns into a hard, firm brick
your poor eyesight corrects itself to 20-20
you tremble and fall to your knees
praising this wise & forgiving God
for a certain taste of heaven
undeserved

David James is a poet and playwright who teaches English at Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He has published three books of poetry, including I Dance Back, and attends St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Fenton, Mich. David may be reached by email at dljames@oaklandcc.edu