Moral Theology

Someone sneezes
in a classroom
on holy hill
in Berkeley, California.

Someone’s sneeze
then a moment
of silence
in a classroom
on holy hill
in Berkeley.

Moral Theology,
required study
for Buddhists, Jews
and Unitarians,
skeptics, Muslims,
Christians,
and one atheist, all
startled by a sneeze
in a classroom
on holy hill
in Berkeley.

A sneeze,
a moment of silence, then
for the defense of their faith,
a tribal rush to say
God bless you!
or Bless you! first.
Then one still small voice
whispers Gesundheit
in a sunny classroom
on holy hill
in Berkeley, California.