Of Gods and Heroes and Men

We have heard of gods.

Those great beings:

       Their stories told to us sometimes still.

They were seen by those before us,

       But those we have never met.

We have been told of heroes.

Those of us who are older,

       Even saw those great men.

Their stories still hold sway,

       Over us and our lives.

We know men.

The people we see

       Everywhere we go.

They fill our minds

       And the halls of power.

Those enchanted by the stories of gods,

       Make men into gods now.

                   Or at least prophets.

They are great; they needs this greatness.

Those that knew or love heroes,

       Make heroes of every man.

                   Or at least any man.

They see in popularity or wit a divine ordination.

Many learn to see humanity as divine, sacred

       And organizations as heroes.

                   Or at least the best that humanity can be.

They see only the big picture and what should be.

And they miss the true beyond,

       As they collapse it

                   Into the here and now.

They also miss the here and now,

       As they color it too thick

                   With shades of the beyond.

Living in a synthesis

       That took only the least or worse

                   From each conflicting side.