After a walk of indeterminate length,
Mrs. God pondered: “We need
a solid substructure so people can
organize their lives,
much as bones shape their bodies.”
She had noticed that summers
felt a little short on Earth,
especially up north.

She asked, “Could we use light?
Sunflowers turn east every morning.
That’s pleasant. And reliable. I could put
a sundial next to the birdbath.”

“What about heat?” God offered.
“Thermometers mounted in the forest
and planted in the fields.
Breakfast at 60 degrees.
The bullfight could start at 82.
But if it stays cool, there’d be no fight.”
That last thought was for her
and the children.

But much later
he found her asking the pines
how long they wanted to live,
and then came a terrible sadness.
Forever, they said in the wind.

And God declared,
though their countenance might change,
yet the pines would live
from the beginning of time
to the end.