Gone

I.

It’s important to know you will die and will be gone
except for film
and maybe a few words written down; 

things by others personally remembered 
for a few short years
by family and friends, maybe scholars.

Then things move on 
so that less and less you’re remembered
until you’re gone.

You’ll simply have disappeared
and so will join
the legions of the once-remembered. 

II.

So, what of you will be detailed? 
The times you lost your temper?
The tests you failed? 

The purse you stole, or girl you raped, 
insisting all the while 
your accusers lied; 

or the times you comforted a child, 
stood up in defense for another,
made a loan, forgot it; 

or choose not to be remembered,
leave on the sly 
to avoid false accusations?

III.

So time flies by 
and we simply are no longer.  
Even memories held in trust rust away. 

Were we ever loved? For what will we be remembered? 
Were debts all paid? 
Or hopefully forgiven, nothing more to say.

In the end, it makes no difference, 
since such small differences
pass from mind

unless God is a woman
and so may choose 
not ever to forgive wrongs by men

who insist on calling Her Father, 
rejoice at war, 
see rape as the right of the warrior

define women by weakness.
Meant to serve men’s needs
primarily, not only for bed.

Ms God may be truly disgusted 
and, if so, is right.
It’s been men who destroyed Her creation.

Nor are memories ever given up,
but will be replayed forever,
eternally reassessed and resented…
especially for destruction of Earth:
Her one creation
where every last woman was dismissed
and rudely scorned.