death is sleep

i don't believe in god,
she says. there is nothing
out there. we are alone.
when we die, we die.
your prayers are wishful
thinking. smoke going
up into the air, then gone.
there are no ears
up there, no ledger of
right and wrong.
no hand of wisdom or
forgiveness. there is no
god she says. no savior
no messiah. there is no
life beyond what you see
and feel. we are less than
stones, less than stars.
there is no grand maestro
to this universe. death is
sleep. this makes you
cross yourself and pray
that it's otherwise.