I used To Pray

I used to pray, as if my wishes touched the heart of God,
While those who study fossil fishes thought it rather odd.
The trace of ancient relatives in prehistoric slime-
As carbon dated minerals reveal a planet’s time.

How strange our epic arrogance- so recently arrived
On land where creatures stories high once walked, and flew, and thrived.
At different turns the masters ruled, to us by massive size-
But left the world with evidence that every species dies.

Mutations brought advantages by happenstance for sure-
But clearly with advantages more likely to endure-
And pass the torch of competence for all life would require-
Until one human species raised a torch now holding fire.

The wonders were too much to grasp, but need for explanation-
Inspired a million stories that would soothe each generation.
But certain laws discovered brought consistency to view-
A grasp of how this all can be, but held by just a few.

So many choose those stories as the map to find their way-
Instead of building answers they’re content to simply pray.
Most heartless of inventions- to survive by tooth and claw-
But reading all the evidence, instead we’re left with…awe.

John H. Bidwell