i save the fire, said god
"Book of Isaiah" part III, by Anne Carson
Isaiah walked for three years in the valley of vision.
In his jacket of glass he crossed deserts and black winter mornings.
The icy sun lowered its eyelids against the glare of him.
God stayed back.
Now Isaiah had a hole in the place where his howl had broken off.
All the while Isaiah walked, Isaiah’s heart was pouring out the hole.
One day Isaiah stopped.
Isaiah put his hand on the amputated place.
Isaiah’s heart is small but in a way sacred, said Isaiah, I will save it.
Isaiah plugged the hole with millet and dung.
God watched Isaiah’s saving action.
God was shaking like an olive tree.
Now or never, whispered God.
God reached down and drew a line on the floor of the desert in front of Isaiah’s feet.
Silence began.
Silence roared down the canals of Isaiah’s ears into his brain.
Isaiah was listening to the silence.
Deep under it was another sound Isaiah could hear miles down.
A sort of ringing.
Wake up Isaiah! said God from behind Isaiah’s back.
Isaiah jumped and spun around.
Wake up and praise God! said God smiling palely.
Isaiah spat.
God thought fast.
The nation is burning! God cried pointing across the desert.
Isaiah looked.
All the windows of the world stood open and blowing.
In each window Isaiah saw a motion like flames.
Behind the flames he saw a steel fence lock down.
Caught between the flames and the fence was a deer.
Isaiah saw the deer of the nation burning all along its back.
In its amazement the deer turned and turned and turned
until its own shadow lay tangled around its feet like melted wings.
Isaiah reached out both his hands, they flared in the dawn.
Poor flesh! said Isaiah.
Your nation needs you Isaiah, said God.
Flesh breaks, Isaiah answered. Everyone’s will break, There is nothing we can do.
I tell you Isaiah you can save the nation.
The wind was rising, God was shouting.
You can strip it down, start over at the wires, use lions! use thunder! use what you see-
Isaiah was watching sweat and tears run down God’s face.
Okay, said Isaiah, so I save the nation. What do you do?
God exhaled roughly.
I save the fire, said God.
Thus their contract continued.
Isaiah walked for three years in the valley of vision.
In his jacket of glass he crossed deserts and black winter mornings.
The icy sun lowered its eyelids against the glare of him.
God stayed back.
Now Isaiah had a hole in the place where his howl had broken off.
All the while Isaiah walked, Isaiah’s heart was pouring out the hole.
One day Isaiah stopped.
Isaiah put his hand on the amputated place.
Isaiah’s heart is small but in a way sacred, said Isaiah, I will save it.
Isaiah plugged the hole with millet and dung.
God watched Isaiah’s saving action.
God was shaking like an olive tree.
Now or never, whispered God.
God reached down and drew a line on the floor of the desert in front of Isaiah’s feet.
Silence began.
Silence roared down the canals of Isaiah’s ears into his brain.
Isaiah was listening to the silence.
Deep under it was another sound Isaiah could hear miles down.
A sort of ringing.
Wake up Isaiah! said God from behind Isaiah’s back.
Isaiah jumped and spun around.
Wake up and praise God! said God smiling palely.
Isaiah spat.
God thought fast.
The nation is burning! God cried pointing across the desert.
Isaiah looked.
All the windows of the world stood open and blowing.
In each window Isaiah saw a motion like flames.
Behind the flames he saw a steel fence lock down.
Caught between the flames and the fence was a deer.
Isaiah saw the deer of the nation burning all along its back.
In its amazement the deer turned and turned and turned
until its own shadow lay tangled around its feet like melted wings.
Isaiah reached out both his hands, they flared in the dawn.
Poor flesh! said Isaiah.
Your nation needs you Isaiah, said God.
Flesh breaks, Isaiah answered. Everyone’s will break, There is nothing we can do.
I tell you Isaiah you can save the nation.
The wind was rising, God was shouting.
You can strip it down, start over at the wires, use lions! use thunder! use what you see-
Isaiah was watching sweat and tears run down God’s face.
Okay, said Isaiah, so I save the nation. What do you do?
God exhaled roughly.
I save the fire, said God.
Thus their contract continued.