Born Again

 
Are you Born Again?
the man in the street cried,
“Are you Born Again?”
I found that I was tongue-tied.
 
He means, in his question of my life,
has there been a sea change
with furthest tide,
of drawing out and filling in.
 
And I say Yes,
but ask how many years
do we re-live this Born,
how many times repeat, before Again appears?
 
Midst world-confusion,
mind-restlessness,
body-tiredness,
sleep-forgetfullness, and dream-yearnings,
 
Through duties, needs, attentions,
pains and loves and carings,
lasting through all these, 
have you seen or been
 
A breath of incense,
a ray of sunlight,
a broken bread of healing…
Is the challenge met?
 
How long has God’s hand carried you?
Did you ever find the Rock?
Have you drunk your cup,
and, as for your Lot – what became of it?
 
Where have your cells gone,
where has your mind gone,
where have your Loves gone?
Has birth or death been going on?
 
Like a pamphlet on a seat,
small sign to beckon wandering feet,
a question from Anonymous,
“Are you Born Again?”
 
All the answer I can say is Yes,
once I found The Way,
but God’s love has no end
and we are born again,
amazingly, each day.
 
 (1990s)