Lion and Lamb

 

By Cora E. Cypser

 

ISBN: 0-9625774-4-8

Published by KIM PATHWAYS, 1992

 

Seek and You Shall Find

 

Lord, be with these hands

that they may write

only what is so.

 

Be with this mind

that it may think the truth

and reason out the truth.

 

Guide me in wisdom

for with all my heart

I seek to find you.

1

 

 

Isaiah 25:6

 

On this knoll rising

out of the infinite

the Lord has set a feast

for all peoples

a succulent word of life

of meaty thoughts

a banquet ushering in

the reign of love

for all.

 

We here can see

the shining of each other.

The plague of death

is gone forever

banished by that which hosts

the banquet table!

2

 

Psalm 39:12

 

Yahweh, I am your guest

in your house, earth

and I partake of all the bounty

at your table.

All good things

you dispense with lavish hand.

 

But what of those

the beggars at your door?

Please let them in

that they may share with me

and know you

for the generous host you are.

 

Must I play host for you

and  leave my favored place

to draw them in?

Why, I am but a puff of wind

a thimbleful of spirit.

How can I act for you

whose deeds declare forever?

 

Beyond Flesh

 

When they ate the produce of the land

there was no more manna.

God feeds us

until we can feed ourselves.

God  supports our bodies

until our spirits can live without bodies.

3

 

 

Roadway for The Ruler

 

Make way in the desert

a highway for our God!

There are winds of change blowing

the sands drifting, stinging

suffocating.

It is frightening

but the ruler is coming.

We must clear the sands

and lay stones for a highway.

Gather your white robes tight

over your faces

friends, sisters, brothers.

Pass the round worn rocks

from hand to hand.

Lay them.

Come!

Make the highway!

4

 

From Competitive to Cooperative

 

It’s time to take a jump for young mankind

a new direction, a new focusing.

Look how he runs,— competitive!

The race is to the swift.

The laurels, to the wise.

The gold is to the brave.

Are you a winner

or does anyone win

in all these races?

The winner is the loser—

jealous associates know him as fallible.

His run is criticized, his gait, his wind.

The others are too close behind.

It’s only chance that sends him

splitting tape, across the line.

Let’s cut these races and cooperate!

5

 

 

To Bless or Blunder?

 

Why did God make us?

To fail and blunder?

Through the hot summer

to lose our sense of wonder?

 

Where is the cool breeze?

The long iced draught under the trees?

 

Did God make us

that we might know sin and disease?

 

Where is the bond of brotherhood?

Always coming soon?

What good is it to live?

To live for what?

To touch the moon?

What good is that?

 

What good to fail and blunder?

 

Through the hot days

we lose

our sense of wonder.

 

God says

“I made you all to laugh

So laugh and bless!

It was a difficult task

to make a laughing life

and tie it in

with such a dangerous

and majestic world.”

6

 

 

Whistling in The Dark

It is dark

and it is scary.

This whole world

is kind of hairy.

 

So I praise

the God who made it

ask, I not be

afraid of it.

So I whistle

in the dark

like a silly

light-struck lark

waked at midnight

by the moon.

 

I hope I whistle

the right tune.

 

 

On Lions and Lambs

The place

where the lion lies down with the lamb

is the place

where the oppressed and the oppressors

can enter

into concerned and respectful communication

with each other.

It is a secure spot where each agrees to listen

and where each

is guaranteed a hearing.

7

 

 

The Purpose of Gods

 

We make gods out of need.

You can explain so much with gods

who won’t explain their ways to men

but merely show their power.

 

You can explain the earth

made by some crazy god

who threw his weight around.

It helps to keep our sort in line.

We placate gods so they won’t go berserk.

 

Who needs bolt-throwing gods?

Give us some gentle folk

who’ll teach us how to love

how to control ourselves

so that there won’t be cast-off lepers

rapists, and nuclear disasters.

8

 

 

Someone’s Creatures

 

The wise men and the scientists

grew great in their conceit.

They said, “We’ll cure disease.

We’ll conquer space.

We’ll grow vast quantities of food

so none can starve. We’ll check our offspring

so that every child will be a wanted child.

This world will be a wonder world

with all the universe to grow in.”

 

They said, “We have no need of God.

We can create our heaven without a God.”

With these words they killed God in their hearts.

Just to be sure they had no need of God

they briefly looked for God

and since they could not find God in their hearts

concluded, “God is dead.”

Then they proceeded to the business at hand.

 

They knew so much and were so very wise

the lesser people of the world looked on in wonder.

They learned to cure some cancers

but a strange thing happened.

A young girl they had agreed no one could cure

was cured by love.

 

They learned to fight disease

but another strange thing happened—

as soon as they would cure one virus

another group of wise men

would invent another virus twice as bad

and set it on a shelf to save for some day

when their hate was strong enough to use it.

Still they insisted, “We do love.

We wish that all the people

were as wise and fortunate as we.”

 

They proved their kind philosophy

by going out into the world

performing great conversions with their science.

They made elaborate weapons

and forced these in the hands of lesser men

and said, “You fight for truth and freedom.

Shoot to kill.

Who disagrees with us is better dead.”

Perhaps they were right.

 

Where is this better world

our heaven-reign home?

 

Godless we roam

through a scorched, burning world

love, all unknown.

Churches are burning.

Schools have been blown.

Birds have stopped singing.

 

Scientists, men of wisdom

take away your world built on men’s pride.

What have you left us but the passions of men?

 

We need God. We need love.

We need the gentle deed

the self-effacing hand.

 

We thought we were giants.

We thought that we could make the world perfect.

For this presumption forgive us.

 

Forgive us, Lord. We thought

that since we touched the moon

that we were gods.

We forgot that we were only

Someone’s creatures.

9

 

 

Asylum?

 

Yes, perhaps some people

find asylum here.

Some cannot find

asylum from their tortured minds

in all the earth.

For them

there is no resting place

no cure

no healer.

 

When death and hell

pour forth

at time’s own end

then, too

 will these receive release.

 

I beg you, God

my God who made

these stumbling feet

these flashing eyes

surely, you’ve made the love

to help and heal them.

 

The Womb of God

 

God’s womb is the universe

and what does God produce

in this vast cavity?

 

God produces God!

 

The earth provides the setting

from which the spirit in humanity

gives birth to love.

10

 

 

To Anyone In Authority

 

You, there

you in the chair

cut the matter clean.

Strip it bare.

Make it square

if you care.

Only you

can do.

 

Bow to you

because you have this power

for such a little hour?

I should bow?

Why and how?

You are  human

like me

and fallible.

You will see.

 

Tell them all

before they fall

on bended knee

that you are only man.

Then if you can

stir the matter

thoroughly

thoughtfully

vigorously

so only truth

rises in ferment

above the sediment.

11

 

 

 

Controlling Lions

 

Peace is not necessarily calm.

It is not a swan resting on blue waters.

Peace is a riot of color and movement

held in place by concerned love.

 

Sixteen geese at twilight swooping

cavorting in concert across the full moon,—

who is richer than I with such an expression

of God’s creativity? Suddenly I know

why the human was made—

we are the mirror that reflects

God’s wisdom back to Mystery.

 

Peace is creative action in community

such as this arc made with myriad wings

in the deep blue radiant sky.

 

Peace is not taking yourself too seriously.

Peace is the turmoil of the ocean

and the boisterous wind being used

by the human free will

to further the progress of a boat.

 

The lion will lie down with the lamb

when a creative human

controls wild nature

and another creative human calms

those who are fearful and trembling.

12

 

 

Omaha Beach

 

It was June when we came

a golden June

with the daisies dancing

and the birds in tune.

My little son

wished to see the crosses

not knowing the meaning

of sorrow and losses.

 

It was June when they came

a darksome June.

The night was black

and without a moon.

The noise was fearsome

when it came

with points of fire

and bursts of flame.

 

They clambered up

through ooze and mud.

From the hill to the beach

was red with blood.

Today there is

willow-oak and pine

and bowers

where roses intertwine.

 

I ask my heart

“Do they rest in bliss?

Will we ask other lads

to climb hills like this?”

Never  my son

on such a raid!

Never again

such a hell man-made!

13

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah 22:3

 

Yahweh speaks in the heart—

but loudly. God’s word

echoes across the heart’s chambers

like July fireworks

bam bam bamming back and forth

across the hills of celebration:

Do justice! Bam!

Do righteousness! Bam! Bam!

Deliver from the hand of the oppressor

the one who has been robbed.

The farmer in Peru

why should he farm another’s land

and give another profit?

The kameen in Pakistan

why should he haul the sewage

forever tote the refuse of some priest

whose insides are no cleaner than kameen’s?

 

The echoes roll across the world:—

Rulers, you must not wrong

the alien in the land.

Good God forbids all violence to the alien.

 

Those who are roused to boiling point

to throwing stones

talk with them softly.

Listen to their gripes.

Never respond to stones with stones.

Never shed innocent blood

in God’s Jerusalem.

Care tenderly for widows

and the fatherless.

God speaks loudly in the heart.

Those who have hearts

can hear God’s message.

14

 

 

Right Here

 

Let me go out and work for you in the world

God of Love

where lesser nations spew their sins

on blood washed shores.

The answer came back clear.

“This is the most evil spot in the world. Work here!”

 

Yes, you are right, God of Love.

This land is evil.

The blackened trees with their branches dry

reach beseeching, thirsting to the sky.

This country is the one to fear.

The answer came back loud and clear.

“This is the most evil spot in the world. Work here!”

 

Where, God of Love?

In my home, where we have named you ruler?

You find it not just that we should have much

while others starve for food and warmth and love.

Then send us out to spread our cheer.

The answer came back clear.

“This is the most evil spot in the world. Work here!”

 

Where, God of Love?

In my heart?

Yes, it is so. I have built up walls so I could not see

the evils seeping out of me

walls that could hide the wild strong will

and the lack of love and the loss of joy.

Help me rend the walls that blind my eyes.

 

Make me into a garden, Lord

where hearts may rest.

15

 

 

 

The Dove Waiting To Fly

 

What do you want

white dove, in your cage?

You have feed and drink

a clean perch

music to sing to.

What more do you want?

 

Freedom, you want?

What is that, white dove?

 

She waits there poised

with winnowing pinions spread

impatient to be off and out of sight

her jeweled eyes begging you

to aid her flight

oh, God, to bear her up

where star lights shed

dartles of dreams

above the cloud and storm.

All cast aside the cracked protective shell

eager she waits

ready to serve you well.

What blackness can be cut with that white form!

 

I think of doves who set out for the sun

only the sun, the moon

such near-by things

that I must fret for her

on egg-wet wings

dreaming of nebulae.

Our destiny

oh, God, is praising you

is reaching far.

Let her gain I beseech you

at least one little star.

16

 

 

Man’s Work

 

I like to watch men lifting boards

and heaving stone, and making things

rippling their muscles

in the sun of early day.

 

I like to watch men destroy

the old decaying structures

blasting in the sides of buildings

with great machines

unmasking centuries of rot

exposing the damp mold

to the face of the sun.

 

I like to watch men working

doing good with their hands

getting a little nearer to heaven.

 

In Nanking

 

a shoeless girl child wriggled onto

the velvet footstool before the white jade Buddha

and said a gentle prayer.

Did the Buddha’s enigmatic smile

increase ever so tenderly

as he reclined there on the edge of eternity?

17

 

 

 

 

Immortality Projects

 

We each need one good enemy

to keep us on our toes—

yet good enemies are few and far between.

Most enemies are bad, and scarcely worth

our being annoyed at them.

Comparing enemies, I’m lucky to have you.

 

Everyone needs death

to become a whole person.

Without death there would be

not much point to life.

Death makes us stand up

and use our assets.

He keeps us from getting complacent.

 

Dear enemy, as enemies go

you’re similar to death.

Your knives are never in the back.

You are disarmingly straightforward.

You operate without

benefit of antiseptics or anesthetics.

18

 

 

Opportunities to Love

 

That’s why Jesus said

to love our enemies—

he knew there would be

people like you.

He gives us

so many opportunities

to love one another.

That’s why God said

the world God made

is good.

 

Life is all about loving.

Love is the important quantity

that oozes from all this

air and dirt and water.

It really stirs

the molecules within

to love an enemy

who is cutting your heart out.

 

We humans have it made.

If we choose to love

all those who flashily inflict

their cruelties on us

we rid their ids of sores

by rubbing them on us;

we turn hate energy

to love—

a miracle!

We turn what’s bad to good!

 

Look—

every new today

is a fresh opportunity

to forgive those who have wronged us

and those who’ve hurt us.

19

 

 

Blessed Are The Poor

 

How blest in spirit, the oppressed!

Rich yearnings for what is Yahweh’s

burgeon within their treasure chest.

This wealth is manifest in eyes

catching ours in magazines, TV

gracing our souls with plattersful

of that which really matters.

 

The poor grow Jesus in the womb

of their tears, toils, and troubles.

They birth the righteous God

in the stable stall of rubble

where there are feeble few

of the foul foibles that distract

as in the palaces of kings.

 

How flourishing in spirit

those with peaceful seeings

nourished with I-Am Being.

Yahweh, wash us of worldly yearnings

that we, too, may feel support

from gentle, minute things

like hovering bluebird wings!

 

20

 

 

 

Jeremiah 22:13

 

Woe to him in wealth

who builds his house

by unrighteousness

and his upper rooms by injustice

who makes his neighbor

serve him for nothing

and does not give him his just wages.

If the debtor nations

refuse to pay foreign bank loans

God justifies them

if they have already

paid back the principal.

Wiley men contrived exorbitant interest

which God condemns.

All that is owed

in God’s eyes

is the principal.

All else is of men.

If those who had foreign debts

refused to pay

would the banks fail?

Would the banks pass on the unpaid debts

to those of us in wealth so that

we could no longer run our motor cars?

Then we might see

that our exports of militarism

have not benefited anyone

but only served to bind

and to lead to famine.

The end result may be

that our allowance of the sin of militarism

will fall on our own heads.

The wealthy will go hungry.

The collectors of exorbitant interest

will have no shelter from the rain.

21

 

 

The Three Times of Buddha

 

A molded golden poem

with three stanzas

flowing into one another

the great Buddhas

of Past, Present, Future

together sit in crafted majesty

on lotus leaves in Yong he Gong

willing artifacts, substantial things

which lead our minds beyond material.

 

The message of the Buddha on the left

is that the wise creative spirit

has been with the living world

before forever. It is not touchable

but yet the source of all we touch

of all our being, all we’ve done

the understander of our past mistakes.

The healer of present human errors

the helper in our everyday distress

are symbolized by the middle Buddha

raising up his hand to bless

the wisdom possible in our todays.

Love is a splendid spender

and love will spend for us

and shield us day by day.

 

The Buddha on the right reminds

those worshiping that future, too

will flash with Buddha Spirit

with they themselves the giving ones

whose duty is to permeate the world

with caring love and noble thought.

 

The wisdom found when meditating here

is much more valuable than many statues.

22

 

 

 

The Hatching

 

This brittle egg-shell case

that holds my soul

this shell

so carefully preserved by me

handled with care

polished, protected

when will it hatch the bird in me

with golden wings

that will go soaring off

my God knows where

leaving a broken shell?

 

Of what use to a bird

is a broken shell?

23

 

 

 

 

Reflecting God’s Word

 

If I were a house

on the hillside

the sunrise

would catch the glass

of my windows

with flaming gold

so that those

in the darkness of walls

in the depth of the valley

will gasp

at the glitter

of what they behold

at the marvelous

masterful mirroring

of the cascading caldron

of atoms

that boisterously

burns from of old.

24

 

 

Holocaust Syndrome

 

On the edge of hell

one loses perspective.

A people subjected to holocaust

may be temporarily blinded

as to proper treatment of others

because they are confronted

with the large hideousness

of what has happened

to themselves.

 

Thus the molested child

frequently becomes the rapist

when he grows older.

The horror in his mind

finds release in this fashion.

 

God, work through all of us

to help persons and nations

realize their tremendous worth

in your plan for the earth.

 

The Size of God

 

My God is bigger than this church.

God loves beyond the confines

of these doors. God acts and comforts

in all times and places, encompasses

the world, covers the stars

and all that is, yet still can fit

into a tiny corner of my heart!

25

 

 

St. Therese, Priest

 

She thought of herself as having many vocations, the priesthood included: “And at the same time I want to be a priest; how lovingly I’d carry you in my hands when you came down from heaven at my call; how lovingly I’d bestow you upon men’s souls.

 

I am a priest

ordained by God, not men.

I carry Jesus in my soul

so lovingly.

How can you

call me anything but priest?

 

A priest is one who gives

of God to people.

This I must do

and you must do it, too.

We must reveal God

to each other.

 

God hides in his transcendence

beyond our vision.

Only in those who walk beside us

facing after him

can we catch glimpses

of reflected light.

 

I am a priest to you

and you to me.

You carry Jesus in your soul

so lovingly

and with your open hands

so lovingly

give him to me.

26

 

 

 

Jonah and Others Such As Myself

 

My friend Jonah went to Ninevah.

He was a good prophet

but not a very loving man.

He could preach fire and brimstone

with the best of them.

“Turn and repent and love one another,”

he thundered.

They saw sense in his words.

They shook in their sandals

and obeyed.

 

The Lord said

“I will be merciful to them.”

(That’s the way the Lord is.)

Jonah didn’t approve.

He forgot all about loving and said

“How embarrassing for me, Lord

to say you will destroy this place

and then you don’t back me up.

Folks will say I’m a liar.”

 

God laughed as only God can laugh.

God said, “You’re no false prophet, Jonah.

Go to them in love.

Take my love to them.

Say that I have heard their prayers

and that I will be merciful.”

(That’s the way the Lord is.)

27

 

 

Paying My Way

 

Thank you, whoever made the earth and me.

I value dearly all that you have given.

I take with joy all gifts that you provide

but I insist that I must pay my way

to show my thanks. I’ll push myself

to do a kind deed every day to pay my way.

 

Today my achy bones give this long drive

starting before the dawn, to pay my way.

You have rewarded me with silver moon

sparkling the frosted February trees

etching the cat tails in a reedy gulley.

What possible return can pay for that?

 

Like this, the morning’s coursing moon

you go before me, colorful and blessing

the world that meets me and recedes. You rise

too, in the sunrise blossoming behind me

which reaches up its tolerant hands of light

to tousle tops of mountains still before me

where the moon settles to rest

comfortably on a pile of blue clouds.

 

How can I expect a heaven when life is done!

This is enough of joy and overcoming

a very fair exchange. Just let me say

how glad I am to pay my way.

28

 

The Creators

 

If we could create

we would want to create

creatures more perfect

than ourselves.

(Witness how we chide

and guide our children.)

 

As we learn

the problems of creation

we see that it must proceed

along certain natural lines.

 

We start with the problem

of how to get life in a test tube

(just like God did).

 

We rise up

through fishes and land monsters

(just like God did).

 

We finally

get a man-type creature

(just like God did).

 

And then we have to be patient

(just like God is)

until man fulfills himself

and learns

how to perfect himself.

29

 

 

The Idol Maker

 

I am what God created.

I must not take created things

to represent my God

as if I thought

I could carve out a God

from my surroundings when in reality

One Mystery has made all things

and authors all.

We can’t reverse the roles that way.

 

Official idol makers would like to think

they have control of God, of earth, of destiny

as their idol has sprung

from their work, their hands.

The powerful and rich, religious, firm

affirm, “God speaks through what I made!

I have designed a faith

a government, an economic system

through my power.

Those who would be on my side

on the side of power

worship with me!”

 

But God, you made us.

That’s the way it is.

You speak through what you made.

You speak through us.

Yes, Maker God, your voice

speaks through our voices

because you made us in your image

capable of love.

 

How can we reflect your love

and yet divorce ourselves from idols?

30

 

 

Rag Man in The Park

 

The dogs are friends with unknown dogs.

If he were dog, the dogs would rush

upon him wagging friendly tails

and mouth him with a friendly mouth.

 

Since he is man, he has no friend.

 

If he were dog, we’d throw him bread

and pat his shaggy rumpled head.

 

Since he is man and stiff with dirt

we leave him to his ragged thoughts.

 

 

 

What Is Man?

 

Lord, what is man?

It is time we should know

and no one here can tell us.

 

Are we strange devils

mutants on your globe

or have we evolved

with the evolving earth

to care for earth

and praise you?

 

It sometimes seems that we are rats

ready to run

the hawser onto land

knowing the ship we’re on

has rotted in its hull

helped by our constant gnawing.

 

If there were shore to run to

we would run

but we are far from safety of a harbor.

31

 

 

 

 

Apathy

 

The three small monkeys sit upon the ledge.

Wee See-No-Evil does not see bombs fall

but does he feel himself slide near the edge

as the ground sends up vibrations that shake all?

Imp Hear-No-Evil does not hear the sighing

of the mothers and their young in pain and fears.

Even grown men across the world are crying.

Soon he’ll be floating on a flood of tears.

Wise Speak-No-Evil  has no word to say

but one can tell for what high thoughts he stands

like— “We here who can never go astray

defend the good and noble in all lands.”

How well and thoroughly each deceives himself!

How long before they tumble from the shelf?

 

All The Living

 

Though our throats are quite parched

it is true

we can sing and be glad.

Joyous words

come more loud

from the hearts

that have known being sad.

32

 

 

 

Mansion Thoughts for Everyday

 

The Buddha built himself a house

with widespread wings upon tall turrets

and flew to passive peace.

 

Christ urges active peace and busily

prepares for each a marvelous manse

depicting a delightful domain

reigned over by our God-Companion-Parent.

 

Christ cordially invited me to lay

wild weapons down, forget foul fears

and thus unburdened, follow on

to where God has a pleasant place

special for me

with golden scriptures graven on the walls

bright clarified by many a light filled pane

a gabled, crannied, fairy spot

where I can entertain

the oppressed poor

the hampered lame

broaden the view of the short sighted

a mansion fine

with brocade hangings

polished woods, pure porcelains

sweet seats beside fast dancing fountains

a structure quite superb

containing all I want to do and be

where pulsing Spirit penetrates the halls

a holy spot where wrongs are righted.

 

Who could turn such a palace down?

But we must help God crystallize God’s dreams!

We must assist each other to these places.

In such a manor we possess

both Christ’s and Buddha’s peace.

33

 

 

 

 

We Must Do

Glorious Deeds

 

Our deeds must sing Glory

to the parent God

apparent in all creation

and to the offspring of God

found among us human beings

and to the God blown spirit

that breaks into our daily living

from transcendent heights.

 

Surely, we can swing across great chasms

with such a triple braided rope of faith

for our support.

 

No Time  for Tears

 

For myself you need not sorrow

though I’ll see your face no more.

I have learned to view tomorrow

as a kind of opened door.

Passing through, I put behind me

what was pain in yesterday

and the future still will find me

with some trust for the new day.

 

For myself you need not sorrow

though I’ll see your face no more.

I have learned now how to borrow

love from life, and how to soar

up above both grief and madness

to a sphere of joy and rest.

Through a disbelief and sadness

I have learned my lesson best.

34

 

 

 

On Being Jesus

 

The message of God

has come down to us in two ways.

One way is

in the form of a human being.

A second way

is in a treasured book.

 

It is much easier to cry out

from the pages of a book

with the title of God’s word

attached to you

than it is to stand

in a Jerusalem temple corridor

or on a street corner in Chicago

beseeching the troubled

to love each other.

It is simpler

to donate Bibles

than to mouth God’s word

in a city prison full of druggies

where no one has faith

in healing hands or hearts.

 

May God’s word

God’s message

be in every woman and man.

May it find its way

into every crevice and corner.

35

 

 

Early Fisherman

 

He stood in the boat and rowed

old and stooped.

His arms moved slowly on

and his gray head drooped.

He saw us not

looking out at him

on his morning way

but toiling over his oars he sent

sun to our day.

His wet oar shone like a silver flash

to our beach-side view.

His wet oar mirrored the morning sun

and he never knew.

36

 

 

For Faith Growth

 

Heaven-weaver, Earth-hurler

flush us with victories

flash us with star power

gash us with godly joy

like yours!

 

We don’t want to be lap dogs

cuddling

cowering

yapping

feeble barks of fright

into unholy night.

 

Let us grow

Omega-like

as a deep rooted tree

by the living water

shooting out green tips

in God-time

till we touch heaven

and become

rain fashioners

sun hoisters

man makers

truly God-birthers.

37

 

 

Non-violence

 

Thou shalt not kill”—

the hordes went forth to war

and those who took the sword

have perished by it.

There was not one stone left

upon another in the Holy City.

 

“To him who smites you

turn the other cheek.”

Those who preached

grew hot with their religion

and Holy Wars were started

and the Holy City

remained in unholy hands.

 

“Love your neighbor.”

We are neighbors, one and all

on this small globe

and so we choose to disobey.

We devise new ways

to destroy peoples and nations

and kindreds and tongues

and the world.

 

Miseréré

nobis.

38

 

 

The Dwarf

 

Condemned...

I see you as condemned to life

life different from mine

from all of us.

 

How do you see yourself?

Do you weep at evening?

In the morning do you grit your teeth

combing your hair before the mirror

condemned to life

unequal, pitied?

 

But I have seen you laughing

singing, making others laugh.

Is this the burden you have taken

upon your stubby shoulders?

Did God whisper to you

that we are all unequal

all short changed, all weak

all full of problems that we cannot solve?

Is this the reason you can joke

and why you try to make us smile?

Christ has fondly let you climb up on his knee

and is using you for his mouth piece.

 

 

Oyez!

 

There is something out there

that can be in here

if I will open myself

and let it in.

I can be more than me.

I can be charged with Majesty.

Oh, Profundity, enter!

My welcome mat is out.

39

 

 

My God

 

I have a God who loves me hard and fast

with rhyme and reason

across the bridge of race and creed and caste

and time and season.

 

I have a God, a Universal God

a First Great Cause

who holds me not with sweets or lifted rod

or threatening clause

 

but with her love for that which she gave birth

by her own plan;

whose spirit fills the emptiness of earth

and mind of man;

 

the God of Brahmin, Arab, Indian prayer

Catholic and Jew