Heavenly Inquisition

An ode to Charlotte

What constitutes a soul?

Under what circumstances can a being
be aware of their place in this world,
know that the hand of God has a role

in the life they lead. Do the deer or
the cow, or the chicken, comprehend
their role in the universe, their part

in God’s plan. Do they know the
meaning of life, do they feel pain,
joy, pleasure and suffering the way

humans understand them? Do they
live their lives with the level of
wonder and longing that humans

feel for the world around them?
Do the other animals have souls,
do they have the same salvation

as those of us among the human
race? May they join us in the here
after, so as to enrich our everlasting.