Reincarnation Blues – Canto VIII

by Frank Thomas Smith

According to John In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God and the Word was God.

Makes no sense, nor at first nor at third.
Sorry sweetheart, but the truth is hard.

The Greeks lacked articles indefinite
Like for example the diminutive “a”
So for them the sense was definite:
And the Word was "a" god - still today.

So Jesus was a guy who today we'd call cool
Who hung out with a wrung-out wrong kinda crowd
And Pontius Pilate wasn't nearly as cruel
As those who blessed Him with a thorny crown.

He washed his hands, which was no excuse
For killing the Word who Jesus became.
Who suffered crucifixion's abuse:
For many of the mob a death of shame.

What He was trying to convince us of
Was not to obey the bidding of bosses,
But to do our best to be free and to love
For without love there are darker forces.

When the Church became a royal flush
The inquisitors paved the way to freedom
For them! Not necessarily for us.
What in God's name is the royal rush?

The Reincarnation Blues was not being sung,
But it's singing soul was soon in gestation.
For all styles of song start out young
And pass through a period of incubation.