For sure I would have chosen the golden calf

Moses was taking far too long up there

on that mountain top, maybe got lost

or was shredded by snarling lions

and who is this fellow anyway who we trusted

to take us out of Egypt

we never did a background check

or asked for a CV

at least if the calf can’t answer prayers

can’t promise good harvests

and dozens of healthy sons

it can be melted down

and used to buy fine raiment 

bedecked with glittering sapphires 

For sure I would have worshipped the glowing calf 

after waiting forty days and forty nights

in this arid desert with its infernal heat 

for sure I would have joined the dancing 

and raucous revelry to celebrate the new god

slipping off with Rachel, with Aaron, with Ruth,

too falling down drunk to care

about what had become of Moses

who is coming down right now

wreathed in wrath

tossing tablets

passing out swords to kill the infidels

over three thousand died that day

including me

So maybe it wasn’t the best choice

although it was one hell of a party

sometimes I pray to Moses’ god 

hoping to rise again

into this eye-blinking world that has no

need for gods tucked into interstitial spaces

no need for gods to dilute its gleaming wonder

yet still at times I dream of that golden calf