My God

Mark Twain

If I could create my own god

a soul of both solace and mirth

He who needs no one’s flatteries

nor demands them from all the earth

 

He would not possess jealousy

a trait that even men despise

Showing each one he is equal

within the lord of this worlds eyes

 

Having made of each a sinner

he would love all of us the same

Blaming himself for our failings

not tempering us in a flame

 

Our lives would be a tapestry

a quilt of love, that beauty built

Where he'd take pride in what we are

and not punish us, for his guilt

 

Author's Note

We have to keep our God placated with prayers, and even then we are never sure of him -- how much higher and finer is the Indian's God......Our illogical God is all-powerful in name, but impotent in fact; the Great Spirit is not all-powerful, but does the very best he can for his injun and does it free of charge.
Mark Twain

It seems that it truly is our own intolerance of others that will do us all in. We need to occasionally look at ourselves and the things we believe. How else can we ever effect change. It almost makes me wonder why Jesus decided to come here as a 6 ft white man with blue eyes. This in a area where the population is under six ft tall and has light brown skin and brown eyes. He certainly would have stood out. We all know what populations do to those who are different. It is enough to ponder that a man doesn't know if he should laugh or cry! Could it be as simple an observation as this? Could it be true that man created God in his own image? That would surely be one way of explaining him acting like us.

Reviews

[jdr / Jennifer]

A very powerful, very courageous write. Although we all seem to think differently about religion- I wanted to comment on the beauty and elegance that this poetic piece of writing exuberates. 'Our lives would be a tapestry, a quilt of love that beauty built'- stunning imagery- and this piece has a wonderful flow about it. On a more personal note of its contents: ‘Do I believe In God?- Yes.’ But I also believe that God would want us to ask questions and to never stop searching for what ‘we’ believe in as individuals and as a whole. To find out what helps us get through life and experience it in all its glory. To learn to from every step we take and to pass our experience, our lessons and our love on to others. Not to doubt that there is a higher power than ourselves, but to find what it is that we believe in our own heart of hearts. I do not think that it is for us to prove in our own time, but to just believe… And to have the vast majority of the world believe… That is some miracle. No matter what name you give to it.

Thank you for sharing your incredible talent.

[Tate Morgan]

You always seem to intently study what you read.i appreciate that immensely. I never have been one to be led by the masses .I always make up my own mind. I look at the Soviet Union for instance and there was a government and way of living adhered to by an entire culture.Yet flawed to the core. I think we always need to evolve.If I were thew father of humanity I would not create a subspecies below me in every way. As a father i want my son to become more than me not to strive to be worthy of me.

[lee von cleef]

"More than me" , (A hitch hiker on your conversation) "More than me" I believe is a very Christen thought,not a universal one ,though it would be nice if all thought that way.

[Tate Morgan]

You are no hitch hiker lol To me you are a fellow traveler on the light /

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Jesus very likely had very dark skin, black, short hair and was probably no more than 5ft 8 inches tall...he would have been slim and muscularly built with calloused hands from the work of carpentry. I say short hair because it was the style of the times in which he lived. And I disagree with Mr. Clemens that The all powerful God is impotent. But he should have considered that God is not a bellhop summoned at our every whim. God knows His own and serves those who serve Him in Spirit and in truth. God does serve all...with air to breathe...and the life sustaining resources of nature. But beyond that, it is up to us as we choose to believe...for as we choose to believe, so it is with us. Jesus put it this way..."Your FAITH has made you whole." To those who do not believe that...it should be evident why their prayers go unanswered. God is a CREATOR...an ARTIST if you would have it so; that works in flesh and blood and bone instead of paint and marble. Every work is not a masterpiece...nor is it intended to be. But every artist offers diversity. But likewise, every artist loves some works more than others and some are fit for nothing but the fire. I have sent many a poem that way myself and Robert Frost admitted he threw over half his works away. And only a few of those which survived are considered "great poems". But mankind is a work in progress and a very small, insignificant work when cast against the backdrop of the universe. Since God is everywhere and we are limited in our understanding of even ourselves...let alone the Divine Nature; I would deem it wise not to speak too harshly or too quickly of those things beyond our limited comprehension.

[Tate Morgan]

Of all my friends here you are one of only a few that i admire. I admire your convictions intelligence and kind heart.Be well Fabian.

[Writer *78*]

nivce work

[Tate Morgan]

thank you

[Veronica Chandler]

Your pieces always give me a pretty balanced mix of thinking and feeling something regardless of topic. The works seem to have the power to shine a light on any topic and show it from various perspectives which I find a very good trait. This particular topic can sure raise the temperature in any room. I did notice in the poem itself, you used the word "god" in lower case... and the word "if"... This brings to mind a "god" of mans making. Then in your comments, you changed to Upper case and I just wonder if the distinction between the two usages could account for the increase in the general temperature. I enjoy your writing regardless of topic and am a firm believer in "Freedom of Speech."

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Veronica I doubt I gave a thought about it

[Coyote Poetry]

I bought a Mark Twain book of stories today. His poem "The war prayer" is my favorite. I enjoyed the poem a second time around. Mark Twain will always be a special character in the history of the USA.
Coyote

[Tate Morgan]

Coyote thank you I know your background it mirrors my fathers .I know you are no stranger to war

[Baby Ricochet]

Awesome. Outstanding work Tate

[Tate Morgan]

thank you ric .

[jkhatz]

This is the biggest issue I have with the Abrahamic faiths. The Bible is chock full of an angry, bitter, jealous god. That's no god I'd ever want to have. I've actually started a short story based on this idea. Perhaps the Abrahamic god isn't what everyone thinks he is.

[Tate Morgan]

I cannot see admiring a gods that judges his own. But then i do not wish to be heir to inheriting the wind.

[Marie]

The Christian God is largely based on myths. But every myth has some kernal of truth. I believe one Power permeates the universe, whatever it's called.

Why do you think Jesus was a white man with blue eyes? I dont think it says that anywhere in the Bible.

[Tate Morgan]

No it doesn't. But every icon i ever saw of him was a white man with blue eyes.We the Caucasian heirs of the King James bible are so sure we know not only who he was But what is wright and who is wrong..

[jkhatz]

Keep in mind that most civilizations throughout history have had/designed a god that was similar in looks and hated their enemies. Not a coincidence. If Christians were to be honest with themselves, they'd strike the blue-eyed, Caucasian rendering of Christ from their books and use something a little more historically accurate.

[jkhatz]

Sorry, I meant similar in looks to the people who created the god.

[s y e]

Nice. An interesting topic, Tate. Very interesting and well written. I'm sure that we would all love the opportunity to create our own God at some point in our lives. Nicely done

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Dear

[lee von cleef]

"the tallest stalk of wheat gets cut down first", old Russian saying,Difference invites inquiry. Indifference is the worlds view of us "Short Timers" just individual specks crowing,transporting water particles around,in the grand scheme of things, We only matter if we matter to each other, So the weight of what we take will be measured by the weight of what we give. Love the poem Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Lee You are a unique coin of the realm

[Silhouette]

Really interesting write…very powerful, deep and wise. I especially like these lines:

If I could create my own god
a soul of both solace and mirth
He who needs no one's flatteries
nor demands them from all the earth

[Tate Morgan]

thank you

[Silhouette]

You're welcome