1997 Play- GOD'S CHILDREN

GOD'S CHILDREN was adapted from the following poem I wrote entittled, "The Day Zimmer Lost Religion" published in Richland Community College Creative Writing Club's 1996 IMAGES X MAGAZINE.

The Day Zimmer Lost Religion

Church steps housed

the silver-mop framed face

with jagged brown teeth

of seventy-three years.

Numerous coats encircled

this shell awaiting the

assembly of the Christian

members inside.

Today Zimmer would visit God;

the Man the preacher talked

of each Sunday.

Clumsily withdrawing and

balancing each foot, the climb

to the top challenged his

mental determination.

Giggles, laughter, tears and

disapproving voices

mimickled him.

Turning abruptly, clutching his

coat, Zimmer focused on his

travel upward.

Raising swollen feet he struggled

physically, emotionally downward.

- Velma Perry (c) 1996

So many times we judge people by the way they look, talk and act and never know how much courage it took for them to make that "one step" toward God. And before they have reached the door, our actions have told them that they are not welcome...