The Starry Doctrine [poema]

Upon an oaken knoll
The seeker rests beside silent water
When the ancient trope of flaming bush gathers not
Attention enow, more direct lines to heaven
Are called for and are so called down

Those angels that call themselves holy
And fixers of what has come to pass
This Earth, created then forgot
By God in his firmament
Becomes, in good time, a cess

A charnel house of broken bones
And souls wrested from Satan’s grasp
Washed here as if minted new
As Plutus’ gift is blind
So does Mammon’s curse doth bind

Yet what fiery creation
Streaks as a star ’cross crowded skies
Brings enlightenment to the dark
Holds a mirror up to our eyes
Illuminates our worldly wants?

What shines on our base desire
And shows them to be but trifles
Against true spirit caught alight
With a burning, starry crown
And a tail of blazing fire?

—Rev. Mordikai Fox