by Steven Willis

Transcript of “John 3:16 Makes an Appearance”

by Steven Willis

as bumper sticker on your neighbor’s mini van,

as bookmark from the local Christian bookstore,

etched on the side of a pencil. 

Then again.

As decor

draped across your grandmother’s shower curtain,

floor mat, or tombstone.  

Then again. Given 

as a gift to you from your mother, 

as wall art for your dorm room or office,

on the side of the tote bag the cute girl takes to Trader Joes. The words appear  

as the only thing not chipped on your father’s 

oldest coffee mug—

still there, but fading 

on your coworker’s water bottle.

Then again. Everlasting  

as the first scripture you learned as a child,

as the only verse you can still recite from memory 

pressed on 

a t-shirt you got at a youth revival in your teens 

worn to the gym.

Then again. Begotten  

in the rare moments of prayer 

during the hardest times 

as the only sign

 you still believe.  

Bio: 27-year-old Steven Antoine Willis uses poetry and theater to embark on the daunting task of articulating African American culture. Willis is a contributing writer to the Breakbeat Poets Anthology, NYU’s National Council for Teachers of English Journal, and is a 3-time individual World Poetry Slam finalist. Willis is currently an MFA acting candidate at the University of Iowa.