The boat, the man, the sign

The boat was there

   then gone

the man was there

   then gone 

They sailed across the sea

   to find the bread

   again 

the bread in the desert

the bread on the hillside

take, eat the bread 

but more than bread

   they wanted a sign

a billboard, preferably,

  large and garish,

   obvious

a neon light

   large and flashing 

so that they would know

know without looking

   foolish

and others would know

know without feeling

   foolish 

a sign, a sign

wall we ask is

a sign

all we ever ask is

a sign

the substitute

for faith 

The sign stood in front

   of them

the obvious sensed

   but unseen 

Painting: Christ preaching on the Sea of Galilee by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625).