A terrible light came upon the water and every reflection caught its fire. 

And a shame rose from the deep. 

As a great laughter bellowed, “Imago Dei, Imago Dei.” 

For the voice could see my vanity and the pride I tried to hide. 

Laughing, it spoke again, “Look and you shall see.” 

And my eyes traced the faint shoreline as the light lifted. 

Yet I could not see myself. 

Only soft blades of grass and flowers that bloomed blue. 

And all the people who walked by had solar systems for heads. 

What was once ugly had now become beautiful.

And what had been falsely good had withered from its own drought. 

Had I been under the green trees all along? 

Outside the holy men wept, working tirelessly to multiply their gaze. 

Yet every star simply passed by, smiling at their tears. 

For the cosmos knew all paths be true, all visions valid. 

As the birds sang their sweet melodies, my curiosity grew. 

For a second chance given unshackled from prison – 

There was much exploring to do.