God Rises From That Distant Hill

[This poem first appeared in the anthology, "The Soul and the Singer," Young Publications, c. 1968. It was reprinted in my first poetry chapbook "The Lady in the Pink Hat," Candor Press, 1969.] God rises from that distant hill And surveys His wonder in silence still Without reproach or bitter muse For mankind's hostile subterfuge. Not yet incensed with holy wrath Against the impoverished aftermath Of beauty laid in ruthless stubble Amid earth's bent and broken rubble. The mount remains in glory crowned Majestic height is capped and gowned And quietly repairs the ravaged simple Chosen for the Almighty's temple God rises from that distant hill To frame the noble triune will Responding to inhuman guise With piercing but loving emerald eyes. [From the note at the beginning, this poem was written sometime during 1967. I was twenty-six years old, at the time, but I had been writing poems since I was in elementary school. Most of them have been lost over the years. This particular poem was always one of my favorites, and I was delighted to have it appear in an anthology by Young Publications, 1968.] FIRST PLACE WINNER for "The Throwback Challenge" Poetry Contest sponsored by Natasha L Scragg March 8, 2022