Humanist Voices in Verse: Before There Were Gods

We’re featuring another new poem by James C. Coomer. He is emeritus professor of political science and former Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mercer University. He has held faculty and administrations positions at the University of Houston and at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is the author of several books and his collection of poems, A Lifetime of Yesterdays, is available through all e-book distributors.

 

 

Before There Were Gods

Before there were gods, there was a darklight vastness of energy and mass and speed;

            combining in reckless abandon to cluster itself according to its own laws.

Before there were gods, there was Earth without name;

            bluegreen, verdant, pristine…an Eden created from star shards.

Before there were gods, there was life;

            substance in multitudinous forms…shapeshifters adapting and adopting.

Before there were gods, there were people without name;        

            surviving, seeking, learning, reflecting.

Then the gods came…

            bringing with them, chaos.

 

—James C. Coomer

 

If you’d like to contribute original poetry to Humanist Voices in Verse, write to hnn@americanhumanist.org with “Poetry” in the subject line. Please send no more than three poems for consideration per week.