She Was The Universe

"Man is weaker and baser by nature than Thou hast believed him!

By showing him so much respect, Thou didst, as it were, cease to feel for him, for Thou didst ask too much from him - Thou who hast loved him more than Thyself?

Respecting him less, Thou wouldst have asked less of him.

That would have been more like love, for his burden would have been lighter."

[The Grand Inquisitor to Jesus, in Fjodor Dostoevsky "The Brothers Karamazov"]

I had a dream which was not all a dream

The sun was extinguished

And the stars wandered darkling in space

Rayless, and pathless

And the icy Earth swung blind and blackened in the moonless air

And men forgot their passions in the dread

Of this their desolation; And all hearts were chilled into a selfish prayer for light: They did live by watchfires

And the thrones of crowned kings

Habitations of all things which dwell

Were burnt for beacons

Oh Lord, I lack the strength

To turn and leave you

There's no confidence

In my hesitation

Happy were those who dwelt in the eye of the volcanoes

Their mountain-torch: A fearful hope was all the world contained

Forests were set on fire

But hour by hour they fell and faded

The crackling trunks extinguished with a crash - And all was black

The brows of men by the despairing light wore an unearthly aspect

The flashes fell upon them; Some lay down and hid their eyes

And some did rest

Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smiled

And vipers crawled

And twined themselves among the multitude

Hissing, but stingless

They were slain for food

A meal was bought with blood

And each sate apart

Gorging himself in gloom: No love was left