Published on America Magazine (http://americamagazine.org)

Home > The Stone Not Cut by Hand

The Stone Not Cut by Hand

Poem [1]
January 2, 2006 [2]
Paul Mariani [3]
Nebuchadnezzar stared while the prophet blazed.
A stone not cut, stormed Daniel, by any human hand,
However self-righteous or self-deluded. Understand:
It is the Lord has quarried here. The king’s eyes glazed,

Because all he knew was earthly power: kings who razed
Entire citiesdogs, women, babies, mules, the very land,
Kings whose subjects, high & low, did their each command.
A stone not quarried by any hand but God’s. Amazed,

The king fell back before the prophet’s words. A stone
That would smash each self-important, self-made idol,
Whether built of gold or steel or any other thing their throne
Was made of. Yes, whatever insane, grand mal, suicidal
Impulse kings could conjure up. A stone shaped by God alone.
Womb-warm, lamb-gentle, world-wielding, tidal.

Paul Mariani is University Professor of English at Boston College and the former poetry editor of America. His most recent book is Death & Transfigurations: Poems, designed and with engravings by Barry Moses.
Source URL: http://americamagazine.org/issue/556/poem/stone-not-cut-hand

Links:
[1] http://americamagazine.org/sections/poem
[2] http://americamagazine.org/toc-past/2006-01-02
[3] http://americamagazine.org/users/paul-mariani