The Bargain

“Give back my cat
and I’ll believe in God.”

She was mad, poor lady.
But sane enough to strike

a proper bargain. Then
someone — a priest — gave

her a cat which she loved
half to death for a month

trading it finally for
the apple core from Eden,

another patient exchange.
She misses the cat now,

cannot explain her trade.
“Blame God, his jealousy.”

She weeps faithfully
mourning her lost cat.