rhyme or reason 
open season 
all these coloured toys 
for girls and boys 
well let’s be clear 
no girl stuff here 
just me and the boys 
and their thoughtless toys
you don’t believe in God 
that’s fine by me 
I have my doubts myself 
occasionally 
well every day in fact 
no need for tact
I say it as I see it 
take it or leave it
never asked to stand in this shop window 
but I’ll do it in the fight against sin, though 
I know I look a bit ridiculous 
not to say overly conspicuous
(if you’ll forgive that heavy handed rhyme 
a real sin in these unliterate times)
too dominant unbalancing the frame
and giving real religion a bad name 
but what I see all day what speaks to me
what keeps me calm, composed, their symmetry 
those pink sash windows looking back at me 
their functional originality 
the universe as it is meant to be 



by Richard Ball