Father, Mother, Son, they say you are dead.
        You have been murdered by midgets, but you,
        who were gods, also murdered other gods--
        Isis, Osiris, Apollo, Artemis
        and all the precious pagan Pantheon.
        Alas!  that you were not granted the dignity
        of death by newer gods, but only by dwarfs
        who dreamed you into being and wearied
        of their dreaming.  And now the world is god-bereft
        except for Youth, who think that by special
        dispensation from non-existent heaven
        they will never age and despair and die.
        Oh, Father, Mother, Son, Dionysus and Diana,
        come all ye back from the far god-devouring clouds
        to rule your disparate realms in peace,
        and let us dream again that you are there.

        March 24, 1969