Crucified

I cried to men, "I would be crucified!"

And they said, "Why should your blood be upon our heads?"

And I answered, "How else shall you be exalted except by crucifying

madmen?"

And they heeded and I was crucified. And the crucifixion appeased

me.

And when I was hanged between earth and heaven they lifted up their

heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their heads had never

before been lifted.

But as they stood looking up at me one called out, "For what art

thou seeking to atone?"

And another cried, "In what cause dost thou sacrifice thyself?"

And a third said, "Thinkest thou with this price to buy world

glory?"

Then said a fourth, "Behold, how he smiles! Can such pain be

forgiven?"

And I answered them all, and said:

"Remember only that I smiled. I do not atone--nor sacrifice--nor

wish for glory; and I have nothing to forgive. I thirsted--and I

besought you to give me my blood to drink. For what is there can

quench a madman's thirst but his own blood? I was dumb--and I

asked wounds of you for mouths. I was imprisoned in your days and

nights--and I sought a door into larger days and nights.

And now I go--as others already crucified have gone. And think not

we are weary of crucifixion. For we must be crucified by larger

and yet larger men, between greater earths and greater heavens."