Startled by Existence

11/86* - 12/01

I by inner eye

would be the eye and ear of any man,

and many things.

 

I can put my self ever so lightly in the shoes of other folk,

and with imagination feel their pleasure or their pain.

For every talking head … for every beauty queen staring at us from the cover…. For every broken over bag lady … a world.

And Lord, though I would for fun, or fear, or profit

consider this world through many different eyes

There is one set that I,

and we will not ascend to.

(nor descend into their pain)

 

These are the eyes

that look into the holy eye of God and never flinch.

These are the eyes that look

into the living eye of God,

and are a self-seen eye.

Indeed, These are the eyes

that, having feasted on all glory

and all art,

Consent to being pounded down

in time and space until

we find the eye of God

looking at us

like a Beta in a bowl

(And a cruel bowl at that.)

 

These are the eyes of heaven

Weeping,

or

Forgiving, even as they

see the hyssop raised.

And, Lo:

 

These are the eyes

I long to see.

even as he holds me in them.

 

Illustration by Kayla (15)