Religion & Law

by the wonderful Jesuit poet and peace activist, Daniel Berrigan

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How I long for supernatural powers! said the novice mornfully to the holy one. I see a dead child and I long to say, Arise! I see a sick man I long to say, Be healed! I see a bent old woman I long to say, Walk straight! Alas, I feel like a dead stick in paradise. Master, can you confer on me supernatural powers?

The old man shook his head fretfully

How long have I been with you

and you know nothing?

How long have you known me

and learned nothing?

Listen; I have walked the earth for 80 years

I have never raised a dead child

I have never healed a sick man

I have never straightened an old woman's spine

Children die

men grow sick

the aged fall

under a stigma of frost

And what is that to you or me

but the turn of the wheel

but the way of the world

but the gateway to paradise?

Supernatural powers!

Then you would play God

would spin the thread of life and measure the thread

5 years, 50 years, 80 years

and cut the thread?

Supernatural powers!

I have wandered the earth for 80 years

I confess to you,

sprout without root

root without flower

I know nothing of supernatural powers

I have yet to perfect my natural powers!

to see and not be seduced

to hear and not be deafened

to taste and not be eaten

to touch and not be bought

But you-

would you walk on water

would you master the air

would you swallow fire?

Go talk with the dolphins

they will teach you glibly

how to grow gills

Go listen to eagles

they will hatch you, nest you

eaglet and airman

Go join the circus

those tricksters will train you

in deception for dimes-

Bird man, bag man, poor fish

spouting fire, moon crawling

at sea forever-

supernatural powers!

Do you seek miracles?

listen- go

draw water, hew wood

break stones-

how miraculous!

Listen; blessed is the one

who walks the earth 5 year, 50 years, 80 years

and deceives no one

and curses no one

and kills no one

On such a one

the angels whisper in wonder,

behold the irresistible power

of natural powers-

of height, of joy, of soul, of non belittling!

You dry stick-

in the crude soil of this world

spring, root, leaf, flower!

trace

around and around

and around-

an inch, a mile, the world's green extent,-

a liberated zone

of paradise!