Oils on 40 x 50 cm stretched canvas (web store). Image inspired by Northern Ignorance’s “Deliverance”—which, while it is about whaling, made me think also of the Biblical stories of Jonah/the whale and Noah/the flood… Parables about God facing the limits of His own wild and free creations.
“Sympathy for God, Who Is Not Angry—Just Disappointed”
I warned you idiots.
I let Hitler do it.
How much clearer could I get?
Six millions Jews, the whole schtick.
An order of magnitude or worse might happen next, and quick—
between melting ice-caps and this new Fascism shit.
I’m not angry—just disappointed.
I’ll always be your Father—that’s anointed.
When I asked Cain where Abel was, he pointed
at the murderer asking, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”—broken, disjointed,
feeling himself both seen and unseen: marked.
That’s why I had him live: to feel known again, remarked.
War started then.
You’ve been at it since.
You’re only human.
You’re only as human as I made you, and My love for you is
lose and win
wash and rinse
Mengele and von Neumann.
You’re only as human as I gave you, and My gift to you was
the living world
the kitten curled
the universal die gently tossed, not hurled.
I could have sent more angels,
but you hunt everything with wings.
I could have leaked more cables,
but you didn’t read most of those things.
I so loved the world, I sent My only begotten Son.
You killed Him, as expected—but now, everyone?
And yes, I expect you to keep faith and fight on.
Even as the last dying pairs stumble blindly for an ark that won’t float.
Even as the last billionaires restock their cellar, range, and moat.
Even as the unfaithful point at history and gloat.
As civilizations fell, they also served who only stood and wrote.
As yours takes much of the world with it, so must you write on,
as is the task of the small and humble ones.
Be glad (but not too glad) I only give you so many suns.
Be glad (but be not proud) I made you love flowers and hate guns.
Be glad (be very glad) I was never very fond of nuns.
