When, as a shepherd, Moses turned, <br />recovering a straying lamb, <br />God told him: “My name is ‘I Am, ’” <br />the God within the bush that burned, <br />but strangely did not seem to be <br />consumed. He merely saw a flame, <br />and one God had declared his name <br />he was determine fast to flee. <br /> <br />“I don’t know what these words may mean, ” <br />he told God, being more concerned <br />about the lamb, for he had learned <br />to mistrust many sights he’d seen, <br />but God who’s called “I Am” demanded <br />that Moses give up tending sheep <br />and with imagination leap, <br />and faithfully do as commanded. <br /> <br />“I can’t, ” he said, because his speech <br />was hard for men to understand, <br />but God insisted His demand <br />should be fulfilled, and made him teach <br />his people all the words He hurled <br />in thunderbolts in that same spot <br />where had stood, and heaven-hot, <br />pass on the words to all the world. <br /> <br />The flames no longer burn or shock <br />most people who have heard this tale, <br />and can’t be fanned by men who fail, <br />to tend as shepherds their frail flock, <br />although there are deluded men <br />who stray, believing that they see <br />in visions far beyond their ken, <br />from which all men who’re sane should flee. <br /> <br />1/4/99,12/29/05,3/23/06,5/7/07<br /><br />gershon hepner<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/burning-bush-3/
