Give us our daily bread, and
(forgive this atheist
for supplicating the universe
in the words she was as a child taught;
empiricists have so little poetry
in their communions.)
i find myself as tongue-tied as the moses
who refused to answer god,
my head and heart
are lost like languages in the tower of babel,
for certainly we cannot, do not
understand each other. god’s practical joke?
the true mistake of humanity, i think
was not finishing the apple.
reassuring, to remember
that the world has always been ending
don’t the mayans, and jesus, and the scientists
all say so?
a second flood awaits us,
and perhaps a dove will bring
an olive branch
for this appalled and appalling
world.
though you
wrap your heart in bandages
leave clear your eyes
only the righteous dead deserve blindness;
they have done their time among us,
and suffered in ways we will never have to
again, perhaps.
in the next world, we will all be
artists, scientists, explorers;
in this one, we must be builders.
bridges,
not staircases or towers
will lead us to our god.
Thank you so much, Lydia. This poem is so good I felt I had to share it with others in my UU Church who are hurting today. Of course, I gave you full credit and included the link to this page.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Gil! It means a lot. It’s been a tough day.
LikeLike