February 24, 2005

Job 28:28 a poem

Pele's Glory. A magnificent view of the lava fields near West Highcastle delta, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island...



Job

(Job 28:28)

Yes:
wisdom begins
with fear of the Lord,
which comprehends
the power that made the seas,
the earth,
the shimmering dawn,
the unexplored
unfathomed skies,
the moon,
and the Pleiades.
Which also know
Who comes to judge
our shoddy
little failing lives,
knowing full well,
we need not fear
the one who kills the body,
but only He
who condemns the soul to hell.
Which also knows
it magnifies the Lord,
defying the demon,
being the only release,
oddly enough,
from fear,
being its own reward,
which is also wise,
is faith,
is hope,
is peace,
is tender mercy,
over and over again,
until,
at last,
is love,
is love.
Amen.


Poem: "Job" by William Baer, from Borges and Other Sonnets. © Truman State University Press.