Salvation

By hadley

Mon, 14 Jul 2008
  • 1833 reads
1 comments
 

We do not need to wait for signs these days,
we’ve seen the stars are distant, further still
than distance we can know and reach out for.
They are no longer watchers over us
and all our insignificant small lives.

How this became a day, and not the end
of everything is no great mystery
requiring sacrifice. Beginning day
does not need freshly running blood to stain
the dawn a deeper red, a life for life.

We should have turned away, just walked away
so long ago. All children have to leave
behind the comforting reassurance
of myth and fable, learning that the truth
has not got any special places, lands,
no get-out clauses and no chosen ones.

There are no questions answered only by
petition, nothing out there watching all
to prostrate for, to counter some deep sense
of insignificance and central place
in this our solitary universe.

Do not believe salvation saves the soul
except through reason, wisdom and the mind.
A coming towards understanding all
and knowing understanding can’t know all.
Do not expect the touch of miracles,
and then you will know surprise, wonder and
the true real beauty taking us beyond.

Don’t waste your life on praying hopelessly
for salvation beyond this life and world,
beyond the possible, beyond the real.
Do not let go of life and waste your time
on chasing after ghosts through empty skies.

Certificate U
Poem
Poetry
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by mykle on
The signs are all around us but we cannot believe our eyes! We do not need to look to the stars to see the future. Look instead at the myopic children with their bright new toys... Blinded by their excitement as the day of fire approaches. Hiding within the glittering walls of the Sect of Science. Promising through their art ever greater secrets will be revealed. Promising a new world of power, prosperity and plenty. The poisoned carrots which drive the docile donkeys... Along the path from Paradise to Purgatory and on to Hell! Know a tree by its fruits and question... can this indeed be the Tree of Knowledge? The winds of change blow strong but they are ill winds. Hurricanes and cyclones, tornadoes grow ever stronger, Economies grow weaker and yet we follow the same path. Have bigger, better, bombs brought peace? Are you happy, are you well, are you content? Wisdom is not measured by exams, nor progress by technology. We have been hypnotised by the songs of the sirens of science. Will we awaken and save our ship or is it too late to turn back? Meanwhile, the song of the Snake hisses louder each day.