I looked for Glory

I looked for
Glory
High on the mountains
But their peaks remained
Rocks
I looked for glory
In the shimmering sunset
But saw only
Color
I looked for beauty
In the words of
Man
I drank from the cup
of the left hand
Then
I dove in the river
But it was
Poison

Typical, I stayed to my own
Thinking to avoid the beasts
That lurk in shadow, monsters of stone
Who ruin my feast

I raised a mount of works
To glorify Man, or God,
Or whoever was watching
But, typical, really to myself

Then one night, the Lady took me
Ancient and beautiful, she was, and made my heart cry out
She took my hand
And led me on, saying,
You have searched for true glory
And I will show it to you

She took me to a figure
Sheathed in white
Who dispelled the terrors of the night

There was naught to do but take a knee
And bow my head, for shame I felt.
But her hand was on my chin, and she lifted my head
There He was, pinned to a tree
Blood streaming from a thousand orifices
This, she said to me, is beauty
This, my son, is glory

The One who died for you
Who need not have died
The one with the purity of a
Babe
Bled for you

I fell at the Tree's foot
And his blood covered me
It flowed in my veins
It made me whole
He covered my eyes
And then he cleared them
And the world was beautiful

I have not lived for him as I should,
But He has blessed and kept me
I have not looked to him as I should,
But His face has shone graciously on me
I have fought his purposes,
But He has looked upon me with favor, and given me
Peace.