“it is enough…”

With fervor we mention
the holy words of Paul;
but we have forgotten
his “collection for the saints”.

Saint Basil’s we magnify
the foundation of our asceticism.
But just a bit we remember
his great Basiliad
and even lesser we feel the need
to imitate it.

Why does it seem strange to us?
When you asked us to take up
the sword of the Spirit
and we brought you
a couple of table knives
you told us plain and simple:
“ it is enough”;
those who understand, understand...

But there don’t seem to be all
that many of “those”...
And perhaps they are not the ones
who with complacency accept
glory, honor, adulation,
the bending of knee and loin...

But certainly they are
“the foolish things hath chosen”
and this world’s “unwise”.

29 Aug. 2004