Prodigal Therapy

Prodigal Therapy

This didn’t make it
into the Bible, but
the Prodigal Son
became a Family
Therapist.

Remember him?
The delinquent
who demanded his
inheritance and
used it
to finance the
careers of a
motley crew of
hookers and drug dealers?

Then he crawled home
and begged Daddy
to let him sleep
in a corner of
the servants’ quarters,
probably on a pile
of his filthy work clothes,
from his last job
shoveling pig shit.

But Daddy said
NO!

And made him
take a bath
so he could wear
a brand new
party robe,
then put a ring
on his finger
and wrote him
a big check,
restoring his
squandered inheritance.

Then the kid was
the Guest of Honor
at a party to
show off his
new robe and
practice being
happy again.

Okay,
I’m not sure
the boy hung out
a shingle to practice
Family Therapy,

but I like to
imagine his
first session
with a despairing
father,
wondering what
consequences
should be paid
by his rebellious,
but equally despairing
son.

You can find links to my three published books of poems, “what would Jeebus do?,” “jesus likes his coffee strong,” and “a walk on the wild side,” along with links to each of my poems, and excerpts from two novels I’m working on, HERE => (https://stevegillard.com/erleichda/)