Beneath The Roots

Poetry from the Cabin 01/20/24

by Josh Cushman

Matthew 5:45b
“For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”

Beneath the roots of cosmic tree
There lies the dragon down beneath
We live under his providence
And generosity—abundant

There’s no table lacking food
Even the old are full of youth
And water flows to crescent pool
From tree, for those he loves and rules

In twilight of this cosmic shade
Our abundance—by his grace
Society in opulence
Shining bright metropolis

Beneath the shade in rich twilight
Dwell in this place where all is right
Is it not right that we should worship
The great dragon who has earned it?

To him we give our waking hours
Doing all within our power
And give to him our very best
Production equals happiness

Is it not right we sacrifice
Our children laid before his sight?
For the shade—it has its limits
And we all must stay within it

For what is out where darkness fades
Beyond abundance of this place?
The rich dark fruit that drips like blood
From lips of those the dragon loves

The pool, abundant deep water
From the dragon roots down under

Now we change our point of view
And step outside to see what’s true
A simple tree on grassy plain
With clouds full of the coming rain

The rain that fills the crescent pool
And gave the tree water to grow
And filled the fruit with sweet red juice—
This rain falls free each day anew

It waters rich abundant fields
Fruitful trees and bursting yields
And mountaintops and valleys low
Despite the snake in roots below

With the false claims of love he makes
As if he cared for humans’ sake
Yet gobbles up their children still
While claiming all belong to him

This snake who tainted one good tree
And tries to keep us all beneath
Step out into the sun and rain—
Now learn to trust and live again