Credo

If you must lapse,

Perhaps:

You’ll want to do it in style -

Make your own heaven and earth,

Become an Apostle without portfolio - 

An empirical saint,

Worship any goat

With its feet on the ground.

Form a new legion

Of punch-drunk relativists.

Raising a glass in memory

Of the weekly hour

You once gave to God.

And your recurring Presbyterian need
To not be thanked for it