I was walking on the esplanade last noon-time, When the Angelus rang out across the water. A young boy with his parents turned and asked them What the meaning of the ringing bell was for, And his parents turned to one another,
Then to me, the question on their faces.
“It’s the Angelus,” I answered, smiling,
“It chimes each day at midday from the convent.” And I walked on fast before they could inquire The explanation of the famous prayer.
In years gone by I meekly genuflected
Every time the Angelus rang out,
And murmured Mary’s words of meek submission, “Be it done to me according to Thy Word.” But the yoke of Rome was finally broken, Cast aside with my own broken life
When I found its words too harsh, uncompromising, And I submit to no-one, now or ever.
Love is not love which puts love to a test,
As most religions do. Love with conditions Is not for me. I want to be loved freely,
And to love without possession in return.
Augustine said that we should love completely, And then do the thing we want to do,
But if what we want to do is follow,
We have not chosen – love has chosen us. It all depends, I guess, on what you’re wanting: To be the lover, or to be beloved.
I will not follow, nor will I be leader.
Love is equality. Humanity is all.
In each of us is good and there is evil, Murder in each heart as well as love. It all depends upon the dice of destiny Which comes to fore, the killer or the saint, And if humanity’s to reach its heaven Here on earth, as some believe it should, We all must be both lover and beloved, Those of us who strive to further good. All love is good, and those who would destroy it, Like Rome, which judges men who love each other, And judges women who love women, too; Rome, which rejects the very act of loving Outside the confines of mere procreation,
Thus reducing it to animal behaviour,
Are difficult to love, with all their harshness. (Whose will? According to whose word?)
Yet others are as difficult. Most politicians Seem to grasp for power once installed, Or else for money or prestige or glory, And forget, if they ever had, ideals.
Western nations are so self-important. They think their value-systems all-in-all, Trying to impose them on all others. Democracy is to be forced upon them If they won’t accept it without argument.
And big business and free trade, they have no mercy, The quality that god’s supposed to have,
If there’s a god, and if there isn’t,
We must make the world a better place.
We can’t prevent cyclones, floods or earthquakes, Tsunamis, drought, volcanoes, such disasters. The uncontrollable events of Nature,
(Whose will? According to whose word?) But we can spread love and understanding, Put food into the mouths of those who starve, Clothe the naked, give the homeless shelter, Teach the uneducated, give them skills.
That should be the primary aim of churchmen, And of politicians, and of businessmen
(Though philanthropists seem to number higher Among “capitalists” than among politicians.)
Be it not done unto us by a god.
Let us fight against the evil in man’s nature. Praying will do naught to change the world. Courage must come striding to the future.
This Brave New World needs guiding more than ever. We don’t need a god who seeks submission. Humankind needs no contrition; it needs food, Clothing and shelter, medicos and water, Industry and agriculture, fuel; the list is endless, And god does not provide it; mankind must. Let Angelus ring out across the water.
Get off your knees and work for peace and justice. Let it not be done according to god’s word, For god is sometimes good and sometimes evil, Is impartial. It is up to man to choose.