To The Lord Of Creation Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

Fires in Greece and Indonesia
tidal waves in Papua New Guine
bombs in Tanzania and Kenya
bombs of revenge for Sudan and Afghanistan
bombs for freedom in Ireland, Israel and Palestine
floods in the Gangtze rivers of China and Korea
nuclear boasts of Pakistan and India
nuclear tests unleashed in your lands and seas.

Here we stand again
before the ugly monsters
that eat up our shelters,
farms and other means to live on.

Here we come again
face to face with monsters
that gooble up lives of people
by the hundreds, by the thousands
and by millons and billions of lost currencies.

Here we are again
face to face
with the monsters of greed,
hate, pride and power.

Save us, Lord, from greed
that makes us harvest the fury of nature.

Save us, Lord, from hatred
that makes us bury
your gift of love and service.

Save us, Lord, from pride
that seeks to elevate ourselves
the center of power.

Pour upon us your spirit
in these last days
to protect your creation
to sow seeds of love among peoples
to affirm you as the Lord of Creation,
the center of our life and universe.

Save us, Lord, from the ugly monsters in our time.