Gods war, warn,

trick to test the ethics

of our insignificant hearts.

Gods avenge, smite.

Depending on belief,

they lust or rebuff.

They make speeches—

long-winded thunderstorms

of speeches—then drink

marrow from a soup bone,

set obstacles, remove them.

They curse, condemn, admonish,

bluster, visit plagues

upon us, like the current virus,

mysterious, swallowing

our breath before

it gets to us, relieves.

Whose god did this?

Whosever, tell him

or her or it to quit, release,

return to glittering

in suggestive rains of gold,

let some of that fortune

fall on us.