The Hour Hand Or Economy Of Action Poem by Saiom Shriver

The second hand's 3600
acts have the same
power
as only one movement
of the hand of the hour.

The painter tried to
make the world violet
with millions of dollars
of purple paint
The master donned
purple spectacles.

The traffic policeman
with great effort moved
his arms.
But the green light
effortlessly moved
hundreds of cars.

The unripe fruit had
to be hacked to
the ground.
The ripened fruit fell
without effort.

The swimmer exhausted
himself after a few thousand
strokes..
The sage found an
ocean current which
carried him
thousands of miles.

The hunter in vain
chased the deer through
many woods
.. the deer came unsummoned
to the nonviolent
forest meditater.

The honeystealing
beekeeper chased
bees
but they came unbidden
to the nectared blooms.

The hard worker chipped
away hour after hour
at the ice
while the serene
did more pleasant things
and allowed the sun
to melt the crystals.

The bunter had to scurry
around the bases.
The homerun hitter
could take his time.

The treasure seeker dug
everywhere and risked
his life under water.
The meek was given
a treasure map by God.

The fearful built an army.
The fearless with perfect love
needed only God.

One looked for the haystack
needle.. for hours
Another with 1 magnet
immediately magnetized it.

The scarcity conscious saved
thousands of dollars
but the friend had in his
bank only the hearts of
his friends.

The portrait artist took 20,000
strokes.. the mirror did
nothing and gave a better
likeness.

Students doctoral toil thousands
of days spending untold dollars
The great one is
given an honorary doctorate.*

The angry one had static
on his radio as he
furiously turned the dial
but the peaceful one
magnetized the right
frequency

The lovehungry traveled
the world seeking love
but the Godlover became
Godlove and love came to him.

The pyramid builders caused
death and suffering to slaves
but the saint moves mountains
with a mere gesture.

Like the engineer who
multiplies power
by adding hundreds of
cars to the engine
of the train
those who align
to God
act with the power
of
the Divine