BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE THE COSMIC GASES

SOLIDIFIED INTO MATTER

FORMING PLANETS AND STARS

BEFORE THE SPIRIT BROODED OVER THE ABYSS

BEFORE THE ABYSS

BEFORE THE PRIMORDIAL CHAOS OF BEGINNING

BEFORE BEFORE

GOD THOUGHT

(WE GIVE HIM HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

TO UNDERSTAND HIM)

GOD THOUGHT

IF I MAKE A WORLD

IT WILL BE FLAWED

I WANT LOVE

NOT SUBSERVIENCE

HE GAVE US LIFE

HE CALLED US BY NAME

WE ARE AS PRECIOUS TO HIM

AS A BABY IN A MANGER

SO OFTEN HAVE I PAID HIM BACK

WITH SHAMEFUL DEEDS

SO OFTEN HAVE SOLD MY BIRTHRIGHT

FOR A TRINKET

HE CREATED TIME

TO CALL US BACK

TIME AND AGAIN

TO THE BEGINNING POINT

WHERE WE DWELT IN GOD’S MIND

WHERE OUR FUTURE HOME IS

ENTRANCE TO IT

HAS BEEN PAID

BY A BABY

ON PRICKLY STRAW

FRANK A VOLLMER