Two Kinds of God
Yakshi, the Indian stone goddess dances
Over those who enter the gate of the Great Stupa.
Feminine, brazenly nude,
Leaning over perilously far,
Exulting in the motion of the dance.
The Egyptian stone pharaoh, Kafre,
Sits on a throne,
His back straight,
Clothed, arms out,
Perfectly symmetrical,
Balanced and unmoving.
Two views of the universe:
More like the wind or a mountain?
Ever moving?
Ultimately stable?
Celebrating the flesh or hiding it?
What kind of universe do I believe in?
What kind of God do I believe in?
A god who never changes,
As solid and stable as a pyramid?
Or a god who IS movement,
As unpredictable as the wind?
I once thought he was a mountain,
But for me, the mountain has crumbled,
But the wind still blows in my face.
7 thoughts on "Two Kinds of God"
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Beautiful contemplation. Maybe some aspects of both… but there is definitely movement and wildness bigger than the boxes we make!
I find this haunting and beautiful.
This is my kind of poem. It grapples with my persistent themes and it’s magnificent.
As Linda notes, definitely my kind of poem exploring themes I’ve often written about as well. Thank you.
This is such a valuable comparison and I am moved by the ending.
Intriguing comparison, love the questions.
I love the questions posed in this poem, and the symbolism of the two deities. Wind can wear away mountains given enough time. Just sayin’… Thank you for this!