GOD.

They would give hands to Thee, head to Thee, feet to Thee —

They who are blind:

They would give form to Thee, fashion Thee manikin,

After their kind.

They would give hate to Thee, spite to Thee, jealousy —

Thou the adored:

Only have fear in Thee, only repel Thee,

Master and Lord.

They would bring shame to Thee, even in worship —

Each empty rite:

Bigotry, canting and sere superstition,

Knowing no light.

Faiths esoteric, pedantic and recondite —

Mystical creeds:

False and insipid and brutal and selfish —

And wrought to their needs.

They whom Ye nurtured from primal conceiving,

And ne'er a flaw —

They know Thee not, or in knowing, reject Thee,

Thee and Thy law.

Saying, “We see Thee not, come to us, speak to us —

Tangible stand.

Come in the purple, crowned, robed and resplendent —

Sceptre in hand.

“Even as kings have done, through all the ages,

Brave to behold —

Fanfare of trumpets, be jeweled and refulgent

And girdled with gold:

“Or in a chariot welded of star-dust —

Glittering white —

Pause at the cloud-line‘ mid crashing of thunder

And blazing of light.

“Rolling Thy voice till the Pleiades tremble —

The spheres are amoan;

The Earth for a footstool — the outermost planets

Grouped for a throne.

“Thus would we see Thee, acclaim Thee; and worship Thee,

Thou in Thy might —

Concrete, conglomerate, human and splendid —

Aflame in our sight.”