Simeon’s sad psalm

Let thy servant depart  


Let thy servant depart this world 

If not in peace at least in penitence

Because my eyes have seen the hell

That man has made of heaven. 


This is not what you had foreseen 

Thirteen billion years ago

Before the world was formed

Before the fishes swam in early seas. 


We have not learned, Jew nor Gentile

To be gentle with the gift you gave 

And live our lives within our means

To value sense above excess. 


We have spurned salvation

We have spent with stunning greed

Our eyes are lowered to the sewers

Running down the streets and alleys. 


Your prophets warned us in times gone by

To turn to Justice and to simplicity

But now the stakes are higher

As we destroy our fragile world. 


Your prophet asked for ten just men

But the challenge is far higher 

We now need eight billion more or less

To take a path out of our burning building. 


The poor now press their noses

Against the windows of big mansions

While all the while the wealthy

Fiddle as the earth burns down. 


The rich still think their money saves them

But eventually will find out

They can’t eat gold or coins

All is well until it’s not. 

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