# God of the Distances, Hear Us explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ameen Rihani.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se/chapters/god-of-the-distances-hear-us
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se/chapters