Prophesy

It is remarkable that among all the preachers there are so few moral teachers. The prophets are employed in excusing the ways of men. - Thoreau

with a spirit of water and fire

you spoke in a revelation of tongues

lifting me up upon a rickety ladder with an eternity of rungs

Author's Note

"Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the saints. Our hymn-books resound with a melodious cursing of God and enduring Him forever. One would say that even the prophets and redeemers had rather consoled the fears than confirmed the hopes of man. There is nowhere recorded a simple and irrepressible satisfaction with the gift of life, any memorable praise of God." - Thoreau