The Other Paltu

There used to be another Paltu.
I was given the gift of devotion
because they thought I was he.
I caught the Name he was supposed to get—
Paltu’s devotion was given to me.

I found it lying there—
Someone had dropped this incredible wealth.
I picked it up casually,
closed my hands over it, hid it away.

It was fated otherwise,
but there was a confusion
in the karmic account —
No one knew but me.

Eventually they found out;
they thought about it but didn’t take it back.
That’s the way of the rich —
if they make a mistake,
they can afford to let it go.

I am a no-good—
God clearly made a mistake.
There was this other Paltu—
and He thought I was he.
_{Saint Paltu}