Rev1

Moses

They ask Moses for proof:

Imagine a man of height, barrel chested
and a three mile stare - as seen on film
if needs be, but Moses, lacking direction,
has less of the insane behind his eyes.
Hint of rickets in his stance
and twin walking sticks as tall as the man.
I like his smile, that rare flash of humour.

He gives them fragments of rocks
ripped from the roots of the mountain
as he stumbles upslope across the scree.

He stands at the ridge, a foot to either side
of the summit, shouts to the passing cloud,
'I am not Moses!'
God adds, 'Any more!'
I like the voice, love the voice even
but not enough for faith.

Finally God shrugs; we can hear it
as the mountain shudders and that voice again
'I need another hero!'
Moses/not Moses feigns deafness, walks down hill,
rejoins the children of the desert,
surrounded by applause.

For myself, I have the remnant of a voice
to which I cling. Not faith perhaps
but hope certainly. Not bad for new beginnings.


original
Moses

They ask Moses for proof:

Imagine a man of height, barrel chested
and a three mile stare - Charlton Heston
if needs be, but Moses has less of the insane
behind his eyes. Hint of rickets in his stance
and twin walking sticks as tall as the man.
I like his smile, that rare flash of humour.

He gives them fragments of rocks
ripped from the roots of the mountain
as he stumbles upslope across the scree.

He stands at the ridge, a foot to either side
of the summit, shouts to the passing cloud,
'I am not Moses!' God adds, 'Any more!'
I like the voice, love the voice even
but not enough for faith.

Finally God shrugs; we can hear it
as the mountain shudders and that voice again
'I need another hero!'
Moses/not Moses feigns deafness, walks down hill,
rejoins the children of the desert,
surrounded by applause.

For myself, I have the remnant of a voice
to which I cling. Not faith perhaps
but hope certainly. Not bad for new beginnings.