an odd man told me once
God punishes us for what we can’t imagine
I say no
He punishes us for what we can
out of imagination springs hope
eternally yielding to expectation
and expectation denied is anger born
the seeds of our discontent ever sown
in the winter soil of our dreams
yet the same odd man told me once
a story of hope held close
warm and safe in the heart
a fragile starling, too weak to fly
nurturing as she nurtures
sustaining as she is sustained
to spring once more in flight
free of earthly bonds
at the appointed hour
the closest to the divine
we shall ever be