What Job Meant to Say Had He Girded Up His Loins

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:

            "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

  Gird up your loins like a man,

           I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

  "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

           Tell me, if you have understanding.

- Job 38:1-4

Since you queried, O Great One, where I was

while you were making such a big deal expanding space

slamming atoms together, kneading time to sticky dough,

doing that song and dance with planets, coaxing corpuscles,

I was weaving reeds together into rope

and using rope to scale the mountain

and stood atop the mountain on tippy toes

reaching up to the stars you playfully put beyond my reach

and then looking out at the sea and the waves

you so impressively contained by land as gates and walls

I saw the dolphins pirouette and sea spray fly

and I picked up a praying mantis and we prayed as one

so yes, you crush my pride with sublime brush strokes

but then, I get your number now, you do take delight in us

because who else but we crickets of men and women could answer 

even your rhetorical questions with such gorgeous, harmonized chirps