Poetry Porch: Poetry

 

DOOMSDAY
by Ted Richer



“I have been given the gift of prophecy.” 
 

“Who gave it to you?” 
 

“A God.” 
 

Then.
 

“Yield to a God.” 
 

. . .
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Did you know?” 
 

(Determined — I didn’t say.)
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Did you know Doomsday would happen?” 
 

“No,” I said, “I didn’t.” 
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Did you care?” 
 

(Determined — I didn’t say.)
 

So. 
 

Later.
 

“Did you care — if Doomsday happened?” 
 

“No,” I said, “I didn’t.” 
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Why didn’t you know?” 
 

(Determined — I didn’t say.)
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Why didn’t you know Doomsday would happen?” 
 

“Doomsday,” I said, “ Doomsday?” 
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Why didn’t you care?” 
 

(Determined — I didn’t say.)
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“Why didn’t you care — if Doomsday happened?” 
 

“Doomsday,” I said, “Doomsday?” 
 

So.
 

Later.
 

“I have been given the gift of prophecy.” 
 

“ Who gave it to you? ” 
 

“You.” 
 

Then.
 

“Yield.” 
 

. . .
 



Copyright © 2003 by Ted Richer. From The Writer in the Story and Other Figurations by Ted Richer. Great Britain: Apocalypse Press, 2003. Used with permission.

 
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