Sunday, April 17, 2011

For Gods to Menace Fools

Full Moon on Palm Sunday: 3am

XIII
If there is a witness to my little life,
To my tiny throes and struggles,
He sees a fool;
And it is not fine for gods to menace fools.


~ Stephen Crane, 1871 - 1900 ~
American poet, journalist, novelist, short story writer

GOD'S SONG
(on youtube)

Cain slew Abel
Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:

"Man means nothing he means less to me
than the lowliest cactus flower
or the humblest yucca tree
he chases round this desert
cause he thinks that's where i'll be
that's why i love mankind

I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
from the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven
at the prayers you offer me
That's why i love mankind"

The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak

They said "Lord the plague is on the world
Lord no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you please please let us be?"

And the Lord said
And the Lord said

"I burn down your cities--how blind you must be
I take from you your children
and you say how blessed are we
You must all be crazy to put your faith in me
That's why i love mankind
You really need me
That's why i love mankind"


Randy Newman, b. 1943
American singer / songwriter, pianist, satirist

**************************************
Another favorite from Stephen Crane:

VI

God fashioned the ship of the world carefully.
With the infinite skill of an all-master
Made He the hull and the the sails,
Held He the rudder
Ready for adjustment.
Erect stood He, scanning His work proudly.

Squall Off Cape Horn, 19th C
Currier and Ives

Then - at a fateful time - a wrong called,
And God turned, heeding.
Lo, the ship, at this opportunity, slipped slyly,
Making cunning noiseless travel down the ways.
So that, forever rudderless, it went upon the seas
Going ridiculous voyages,
Making quaint progress,
Turning as with serious purpose
Before stupid winds.
And there were many in the sky
Who laughed at this thing.


from The Black Rider and Other Lines
in War is Kind and Other Poems

1 comment:

  1. On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1862066198856&set=a.10206271125124501

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