The Earthquake Came

 I was doing some cleaning and getting rid of a lot of accumulated trash Saturday, when I came across an old book of poems that I hadn't looked at in many years. I opened it casually and it opened to this particular poem which seemed very apropo for what is happening in the world today. I wanted to share it with my friends. By the way, the author of the poem is an ex-priest who discovered that Source is much more than what the church had tried to instill in him and the parishioners. Here is the poem.

 

THE EARTHQUAKE CAME

James Kavanaugh

One sullen day the earthquake came

To place the world among the planets,

Full of heat and rage and feebleness.

The earth sucked in her breath,

Sighed in discomfort,

And stredched her arms to ease the pent-up pain.

Man forgot payments and profits,

And, with new priorities, only remembered

To cling to his wife and children

As when the world was young,

For suddenly life was more than ritual or raiment.

 

The tall buildings swayed and moaned and begged

A drop of lamb's blood on the lintel

To keep away the earth's avenging angel,

While the little houses only shook and trembled.

The streets were filled with people

Hoping to find courage and comfort from those

They had scarcely noticed before when

Fear held them apart - until a greater fear

Dissolved the lesser one in longing.

And for a moment man could find no place to lay his head

Save near his neighbor.

 

 

Amid the terror of the streets,

The rubbery rolling of the ground,

There was a gentleness and caring.

Then the earth settled back

Content to rest a little longer

And carry man against her bruised and ancient breast,

As when the world was young.