by Ernest L. Norman

And there was a certain Wise man
who was learned of many things
above that of most men.

Yet he desired to learn much more,
and so constantly set within himself
the goal to learn of the mysteries of life
and why men behave as men.

And as he slept one night a vision came to him
and an Angel descended and said to him,
“Come, and I will show you many things.”

And he took him to a long highway
where the pathways of many men met and crossed.

And here it was, that he saw these men
busily engaged in what appeared to be
matters of the greatest importance.

Some of these men carried small sticks and straws
and often selecting certain places
they leaned these sticks and straws together and said,

“See, now, what I have accomplished,
is this not a wonderful building,
and is it not more beautiful than all the others?”

***

And as the wise man watched
the winds adversity descended upon them
and their houses were blown away.

And there were others too,
who builded by stealing sticks and straws
from others while their backs were turned.

Even so, and as he watched, some of these men seemed
to pass away and were no more.

Others who were closest rushed in
and dismantled their pile of sticks and straws
carrying them away, piecemeal.

***

And as the Wise man watched in great wonder
the Angel said, “Look!”

And as the Wise man looked he saw others of the men
who had covered themselves with fine garments
and had cried out to others men saying,

“Look, I am greater than all men,
I have been sent by the gods to be your leader.”

***

And those who heard him believed,
and began gathering together
a great pile of sticks and straws and stones.

And over this heap, they placed
the name of who commanded them.

Even as they did so, he had passed
from their sight and hearing.

***

Yes, there were even those
who had set themselves up a guard
so that none could steal from this great heap.

There were even others
who dressed themselves in similar robes
and made the same claim and declaration
so that again was much activity,
more carrying of sticks and stones

Even creating other great heaps in different places
wherein others with bright raiment
were set up as before.

***

And as the Wise man watched, astonished,
he saw these men coming and going
yet always did their faces seem familiar
with each coming as he had seen them before.

And as he watched, a great storm descended from Heaven
and the earth was made clean again,
the sticks were scattered
to the four corners of the world
and the stones were piled in the stream beds.

And as the Wise man awakened
he was much perplexed
at what he had seen in his vision
for even now the mystery of life
seemed greater than before.

And as he walked forth into the market place
he saw before him the piles of sticks and stones.
And as he looked into the faces of his townspeople
he saw the men in his vision.

***

Yes, there were even those in his temples and churches
which had donned the bright raiment

The kings and emperors who rode
through their palace gates
in golden chariots, or palaquined horses.

And finally there came the day
he stood beside a pool and looked within,
and mirrored on its surface
were all the wondrous beauties of heaven.

So real indeed did they seem
that he reached forth his hand to touch

And as his finger tips reached the water
the Heavenly vision broke
into a thousand distorted fragments
dancing away on the ripples.

Then suddenly the meaning became clear
for he a man among men
must be as all other men
holding to himself in his earthly world
all of the things of the world.

And as they were so contained with each man
yet within, there must always be
the pool wherein he could see
the reflected glories of the Heavens.

Yet this pool must remain untouched by earthly fingers
it must always remain apart from his earthly world.

***

For there indeed, within the mirrored pool
was the world of spirit, the world to come
for the man who learns to live
in this Heavenly place.

And for such a creature, there would be
no sticks or straws or stones

Nor would there be need
to fear the winds of adversity,
for this world was complete
in all things unto itself.

And there were no men in this world
to clothe themselves in bright raiment
for all men appeared equal alike
and without raiment of any kind.

***

And it was here too, in this Heavenly world
that no man could cry more loudly
than the next, or that he was greater.

For there was an abundance of all things needed
yet, each one gave freely
as they received,
for in the giving and receiving
was found the sustenance of their lives.

Nor could they receive without giving
yet there was more to this Heavenly abode
than could be realized.

***

For always; so it seemed, the Wise man must journey on,
one great Heavenly world leading yet unto another
each one comprehended differently from all others.

And so the Wise man said unto himself,
“Now, I have learned what life is about
and that we as men cannot set up
either one small or large part
of this life for ourselves.

“Neither should we declare ourselves
superior in any way
but live only as little children,
learning of that hour and of that day.

“And taking with us only the wisdom of that learning
unto the tomorrow
in this way, we shall not become burdened
with the falseness of any day or any world.

***

“Nor shall we become convicted against ourselves
and refuse to learn the wisdom of tomorrow
by refusing to give up today.

“I shall become convinced of only one thing,
that there is yet more to learn
which will make my yesterdays pass into the morrows.

“And as the yesterdays pass into the morrows,
in this manner and form
will I journey into the future,
will I be able to reach with my fingers of thought

“Into the mirrored pools wherein lie many
Heavenly abodes

“And as my thoughts reach and touch them
they shall not be defiled nor broken

“Nor shall they scatter
on the winds of adversity.”

Thanks to Michael and Mariana Leas for sharing this poem by Ernest L. Norman from their archives.