Moral Theology

by Bill Schulz

 

Someone sneezes

in a classroom

on holy hill

in Berkeley, California.

 

Someone’s sneeze

then a moment

of silence

in a classroom

on holy hill

in Berkeley.

 

Moral Theology,

required study

for Buddhists, Jews

and Unitarians,

skeptics, Muslims,

Christians,

and one atheist, all

startled by a sneeze

in a classroom

on holy hill

in Berkeley.

 

A sneeze,

a moment of silence, then

for the defense of their faith,

a tribal rush to say

God bless you! 

or Bless you! first.

Then one still small voice

whispers Gesundheit

in a sunny classroom

on holy hill

in Berkeley, California.