A Divine Bargain 

I see you will haggle over your wares 
sell them to me for the price I ask 
I know you have many gods 
little and large, in stock 
 
so I make my offer 
much to your outrage— 
how dare I belittle the deity  
I hold in my outstretched hand? 
So precious I should fall at its feet 
not negotiate over its head— 
hush, you say, such sacrilege you 
cannot tolerate 
I must be reasonable, not violate 
your sacred space 
 
I stand resolute in your face 
my offer is no disgrace to sanctity 
only a question of profit, I buy 
you sell 
as God is my witness 
it is truth I speak 
perhaps, you the keeper of such value 
alone know what it is 
the sticker on the figure 
is a matter of trade 
 
I retreat, leave the idol on your shelf 
but hear you call me back, 
pull a wrapper and roll it around 
the little figurehead, 
for a nickel more than 
I offered,  
both accept. 
 
© Neetu Malik