February 27th, 2022

 
Ah, the great Cage Master comes once again,
and he looks in.
Does he see
you and me,
in Cage XYZ?
 
He checks the feeds,
nutritional needs,
records in his book
our chart and our measure
our reaction to pressure
 
We are his experiment,
somehow, his intent –
no repeat in all history
of designs traced in mystery –
He studies each one
then adds to his sum.
          
Oh, rat caught in a rat-cage, complaining,
are you sure that
you are a rat, or just living in Rat-Rage?
accepting an oblivious feeder
and illusion of a Rat Leader?
Does concept of Cage Master
feel safe when you compete faster?
 
Could you see in bareness
intimation of fairness?
the confusing maze
as soft embrace,
the routine feed and turning wheel
as balm for hurt you hardly feel?
 
Your cruel picture of God, by some mischance,
deformity of brain, or chemical imbalance,
that posits rigor instead of love
and a need to know, in God above
 – who needs nothing, thanks or praise
for our uniqueness and our days
 
Unneeded gift, unneeded glory
pour out in love our own good story.
So, do not compete faster or try to ignore –
understand, if you can, instead of deplore,
why you think of yourself – as an experimental animal
and of God – as a cold scientist ….