She Was The Universe

"Man is weaker and baser by nature than Thou hast believed him!By showing him so much respect, Thou didst, as it were, cease to feel for him, for Thou didst ask too much from him - Thou who hast loved him more than Thyself?Respecting him less, Thou wouldst have asked less of him.That would have been more like love, for his burden would have been lighter."[The Grand Inquisitor to Jesus, in Fjodor Dostoevsky "The Brothers Karamazov"]I had a dream which was not all a dreamThe sun was extinguishedAnd the stars wandered darkling in spaceRayless, and pathlessAnd the icy Earth swung blind and blackened in the moonless airAnd men forgot their passions in the dreadOf this their desolation; And all hearts were chilled into a selfish prayer for light: They did live by watchfiresAnd the thrones of crowned kingsHabitations of all things which dwellWere burnt for beaconsOh Lord, I lack the strengthTo turn and leave youThere's no confidenceIn my hesitationHappy were those who dwelt in the eye of the volcanoesTheir mountain-torch: A fearful hope was all the world containedForests were set on fireBut hour by hour they fell and fadedThe crackling trunks extinguished with a crash - And all was blackThe brows of men by the despairing light wore an unearthly aspectThe flashes fell upon them; Some lay down and hid their eyesAnd some did restTheir chins upon their clenched hands, and smiledAnd vipers crawledAnd twined themselves among the multitudeHissing, but stinglessThey were slain for foodA meal was bought with bloodAnd each sate apartGorging himself in gloom: No love was left