Lilies of the Field

THE STORY GOES
THERE WAS A DONKEY
TETHERED BETWEEN
TWO PILES OF HAY

HE STARTED FOR ONE
THEN CHANGED HIS MIND
THE OTHER LOOKED BETTER

THE CHANGED HIS MIND AGAIN
AND AGAIN
AGAIN
AND AGAIN

HE WORE A DITCH
BETWEEN THE PILES
AND DIED IN IT
HUNGRY

POOR DUMB DONKEY
TO LET DESIRE
RULE HIS LIFE
TILL DEATH

POOR DUMB US
WHEN WE DO THE SAME

OH I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE NORMAL DESIRES
FOR LOVE
FOOD
SHELTER
MEANINGFUL WORK
AND REWARD

WHAT I MEAN IS DESIRE THAT WARPS
THAT TWIST A PERSON’S VALUE
THAT
I WANT
SUPERSEDES
THAT BLINDS HIM
TO THE NEED OF OTHERS

LIKE A GENERAL
SURVEYING A BATTLE FIELD
WITH ALL THE DEAD
AND DESTRUCTION
WITH A VICTORIOUS SMILE
SAYS
LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE

I’M TEMPTED TO QUOTE
THE LILIES OF THE FIELD
IF WE THINK
GOD WILL PROVIDE
HE’S DONE A BAD JOB

BUT IS NOT GOD’S POWER THWARTED
BY MAN’S DESIRE
FOR POWER
THE NEED TO HAVE IT AT ALL COSTS

WE SUPPLANT GOD BY THINKING
I
AM THE GREAT
I AM

I THINK GOD WILL PROVIDE
IF WE LET HIM
IF WE DO NOT BLOCK THE SUN
SO THAT LILIES FADE
AND BLOW AWAY


FRANK A VOLLMER