“A GLORY FROM THE EARTH”

 

 

            Our science has achieved its opposite

                        and taken us down a peg or two.

                        Our animal nature has come unglued

            from ghost; we’re Things with skills and wit.

 

            Once we had a soul because we thought

                        the world was also made in part

                        of spirit. Taught by story, art

            and church, we went about the earth in awe.

 

            Those who went before believed with ease,

                        an opening between two roots

                        gave passage to the underworld.

            Enchanted bridges spanned the burning seas

 

            between defeat and safety, peril and hope.

                        Of host of angels, fairy host,

                        song sifted from the sky or rose

            in mists of heavenly vapor from the moat.

 

            By silver water, fruit of gold bowed low

                        to free the spellbound prince from form

                        of tree or beast, or keep from harm

            the peasant girl before whom all will bow.

 

            What shall we do with all our magic now?

                        Our wands are turned to sticks to beat

                        each other off and school belief.

            Once, our gift of meaning to our world

 

            gave back the gift of meaning to our days.

                        But even still, imagination

                        lets all understanding happen;

            even then, curiosity was praise.