The Gift Of God
I
"Name me the gift of God!"
A man commanded.
His brow was furrowed
With thought.
He wished to know all
things.
II
There was a clamor
among the peoples;
Many strove to answer,
And many were silent.
Some did not care,
Yet none were too busy
to listen.
At first, they named all
things, in loud voices,
till the weak were hushed.
III
Then the strong ones
became as one:
"Life is the gift of God!"
they cried,
in a mighty chant,
which shook the heavens.
But in time, they became
tired, and no longer
outraged the sky.
IV
Then a gray beard,
Doddering on the edge
of his grave,
Raised a thin voice.
He had seen three
generations.
Come and go;
He knew all tricks;
He said: "Dead is the
gift of God"
He knew.
But the people were angry,
and in a great clamor,
drowned his thin voice.
