Stevie Smith

All the same, there is a difficulty. I should like him to be happy in heaven here,

But he cannot come by wishing. Only by being already at home here.

To choose a god of love, as he did and does,

Is a little move then? Yes, it is. A larger one will be when men

Love love and hate hate but do not deify them? It will be a larger one.

I wish I was more cheerful, it is more pleasant,

Also it is a duty, we should smile as well as submitting

To the purpose of One Above who is experimenting

With various mixtures of human character which goes best,

All is interesting for him it is exciting, but not for us.

There I go again. Smile, smile, and get some work to do

Then you will be practically unconscious without positively having to go.

The religion of Christianity

Is mixed of sweetness and cruelty

Reject this Sweetness, for she wears

A smoky dress out of hell fires.

I made Man with too many faults. Yet I love him.

And if he wishes, I have a home above for him.

Why does my Muse only speak when she is unhappy?

She does not, I only listen when I am unhappy.