Calling Long Distance (Poetry)

If you cannot help me Jesus
please put me in touch
with someone who can
I imagined in my darkest hour
that you’d be the better man
despite my all-too-human flaws
my straying from the path
you’d hear my feeble little voice
a penitent at last

It seems a long shot even now
there must be quite a queue
of loyal followers who need
a miracle from you
so pass me over if you must
redirect my call
to some great spirit in the void
just anyone at all
with some compassion in their heart
so they might intervene
ignore the whys and wherefores —
those barriers between
but simply help because they can
soothe pointless suffering
the switchboard must be crowded
far-off the hotlines ring ...