i do not believe in god
i haven’t for about as long
as i’ve known the easter bunny
isn’t real

still, i woke up this morning
i sat with my family
looked through easter baskets
and watched the catholic mass on tv

it is not important for me
to impose my beliefs
on my younger siblings
they’ll figure things out in their own time

still, i can’t help but wonder
why our parents believe
stories of an all-powerful god
over tales of a magical bunny

why they think letting us know
and believe in santa
or the easter bunny
is only for childhood

but we should always believe
in the man in the sky
who we can’t see, but for some reason
loves us

as far as i can tell,
it’s just another tall tale
and that’s not me telling you you’re wrong
only that i’m not sure you’re right

children are born

parents lie

while Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny,
the Tooth Fairy, Punxsutawney Phil,
Uncle Sam, Father Time, Belsnickel,
Hanukkah Harry, Jack Frost, Gryla,
the Kitchen God, Cupid and
the Great Pumpkin
are passed out on
their barstools

and Krampus
stands alone
in the dim light
and pours himself
a shot and a beer
and calls them
a cab ride home.

Rise from your grave. It's Easter Sunday
two-thousand sixteen years A.D.
Save the West with hashtag child's play
Post on FaceBook, fancy-free.

Easter pinks and chick-yellow highlights
Nestléd eggs and pastel notes
fail to charm our friends the Ishmaelites
poised to slit our kuffar throats.

Love your rabbit; keep on shopping.
Watch the game and charge your phone.
Allah's bunnies won't stop hopping
Till they make your land their own.