Guyette is a longtime journalist. He received a bachelor's degree in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh. In this essay, Guyette discusses the deeper meaning of a poem that, on its surface, seems lightly humorous.

In "The God Who Loves You," poet Carl Dennis considers a timeless question, one that everyone has asked at some point in his or her life. That question is "What if?" It is certainly something tempting to think about, especially when life is not turning out to be as happy as hoped for. "What if a different path had been taken?" a person can easily wonder. "Wouldn't life be much better now?" In a voice that is wry, with a wink of dark humor, and a style that is easily accessible, Dennis creates a cautionary tale for people who might be tempted to wallow in musings that ultimately lead nowhere. In...