Poetry · Chapter
God of the Distances, Hear Us explained
A prayerful poem invoking God of the Distances, reflecting on humanity's spiritual journey through illusion, rebellion, and suffering, while affirming faith and the pursuit of truth despite darkness and defeat.
What happens
A prayerful poem invoking God of the Distances, reflecting on humanity's spiritual journey through illusion, rebellion, and suffering, while affirming faith and the pursuit of truth despite darkness and defeat.
Themes in this chapter
Spiritual Quest
The entire poem is a prayer for divine guidance amid a journey through doubt, illusion, and darkness.
Suffering and Resilience
The speakers describe themselves as 'Captains of Sorrow' and 'tillers of the soil of defeat', yet their spirit rises again and again.
Exile and Belonging
Humanity wanders from the 'cave of the first Dream', passing temples and shrines, yet remains devoted to God despite feeling distant.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The collective voice of humanity, speaking as 'we' and 'us', addressing God in a plea for guidance.
- Allah
Addressed as 'God of the Distances', the divine listener and guide sought throughout the poem.
Key passages
“God of the Distances, hear us— Hear us and guide us today.”
Distant God, listen to our plea and lead us now.
Opening invocation establishing the poem's prayerful tone.
“Our name and our purpose are written In blood on the tablets of Time;”
Our identity and mission are inscribed in blood across history.
Emphasizes the enduring, sacrificial nature of humanity's quest.
“God of the vision eternal, We are thine, though in darkness we seem, But hear us, O hear us today And help us again to our way.”
Eternal God, we belong to you even when we appear lost in darkness; listen and guide us back to our path.
Closing plea reaffirming faith and dependence on divine guidance.