In the Next Life, Canto II, stanzas 33-38

And now I understand they’ve other means
of hindering the reproductive act.
That must be why we’ve seen them welding screens
onto their ends: to keep their humans packed.

I’d like to pull a prank on those who try
to recompose the tune of destiny.
As this one grows, I think I’ll be a spy,
and maybe I’ll insert a change of key.

I’ll whisper to her things our daughters learn
that she won’t get from 59 the same,
but I am not her mother. She will spurn
my influence unless I make a game.

I need a story I can tell the kid
with carriers about that we can’t see.
They’re everywhere surrounding and amid;
they’re watching all we do and say and be.

These spirits have the power to control…
that’s it! They take us to the store at night.
We have no recall when we take that stroll.
There’s something else in charge of us, all right.

I’ll start with one, and call it “One”, perhaps.
It’s possible that I may be confused—
of early history, we’ve only scraps—
but I believe that “One” remains unused.

©2010 Louis A. Merrimac

Other means: So why did 59 not employ them? In my humble opinion, this would have worked better as separate passages.
Pull a prank: Merrimac denies that he ever said religion started as a joke. He has reminded his critics that he gave no hint of this in Canto IV, where his ideas are stated more directly. As part of the story line, it’s just one possibility.