Kenneth Patchen




How God Was Made

On the first day
A weed led her young to drink at Eternity
But there was only one hanging eye
That withered them with its look

On the second day
A wondrous hand fashioned a bubble
And the stars sang
His branching head awake

On the third day
His heart began to beat
And the heavens foamed along their gathering roads
Where the mad and the dead would walk

On the fourth day
His ribs bent around the air
And the pillars of nothingness topple down
To become roosts for the birds that foul dreams

On the fifth day
His body stirred upon the sun
And the fiery kingdom raised their flags
That would be lifting over us forever

On the sixth day
His mouth breathed the first word
And all the things of wonder and pain and beauty
Were made ready for the poor flesh of man

On the seventh day
His sweeping eye saw what had been done
And moved into the great, gentle face
Where not even God could see its terror