My Childhood God

When I was small the Lord appeared Unto my mental eye A gentle giant with a beard Who homed up in the sky. But soon that vasty vision blurred, And faded in the end, Till God is just another word I cannot comprehend. I envy those of simple faith Who bend the votive knee; Who do not doubt divinely death Will set their spirits free. Oh could I be like you and you, Sweet souls who scan this line, And by dim altar worship too A Deity Divine! Alas! Mid passions that appal I ask with bitter woe Is God responsible for all Our horror here below? He made the hero and the saint, But did He also make The cannibal in battle paint, The shark and rattlesnake? If I believe in God I should Believe in Satan too; The one the source of all our good, The other of our rue . . . Oh could I second childhood gain! For then it might be, I Once more would see that vision plain,-- Fond Father in the sky.