the handmaiden's faith

 
on the zenith, I made special preparations
carefully harvesting my zucchini as an offering
a symbol of growth and renewal
I sang songs of praise as I climb the ziggurat

a zealot I prayed feverishly before entering the temple
my simple dress tied with zibeline as was customary of the day
the ancient rites were observed as I chanted

as my peoples before me, I believed
a great zeppelin would appear carrying me away to the heavens
I entered the temple with reverence

I took the zwieback in hand
saying prayers to the Gods
this was manna from heaven meant to open my mind
and prepare the way for ascension

the zinc pyramid shone brightly in the sun
surely the gods would come
I waited and heard nothing
perhaps my heart wasn't pure
maybe I didn't pray hard enough

I ran from the temple
falling down in the zoysia grass
I plucked a lone zinnia from the temple's garden
a reminder to my heart what would bloom only once then die

that day my faith in otherworldly gods withered
but my faith in myself shone bright