PIRANDELLO, LUIGI

From “I BELIEVE”

If God wants me to believe that He is

Everywhere,

And that

He watches over all and, therefore,

On me as well;

That He dispenses one justice

Which we with our measuring stick

Cannot measure nor understand.

Should I displease Him?

I will believe in Him.

(Pirandello, 1960)

Come back, I pray you, to us, come back, Messiah,

To preach love;

Come back with a pure hand

To knock on undeserving doors again,

Where a dark people

Dies of hunger and cold!  

Others wrapped with your red mantle,

With hatred nurturing your gentle word,

Knock on the dark houses, and abounds the visage

Of misery. Fly

Already the noise of war . . .

Peace you are, Jesus, you are mercy:

Come back to restore on earth

Love to charity.

(Ibid., 807)