God

He’s like an old woman who’s lived
on this block for more years than anyone
here has lived. Her house was there
before the town and she has the tallest
tree in the county in her front yard.
Someone keeps the lawn up, paints
the fence, and collects the mail but
no one’s ever seen her outside.
An old uncle says his dad used
to visit her and play on her piano.
Since then, everyone has a piano
in their house and someone’s always
playing one. Sometimes the sound
comes from the direction of her house.
Every once in awhile, someone shows
a card they got from her for a holiday.
The cards are always unsigned.
Everyone has something to say about her
and all of the kids tell stories
that can’t all possibly be true.