In the ancient days, when the first quiver of speech came to 
my lips, I ascended the holy mountain and spoke unto God, 
saying, “Master, I am thy slave.  Thy hidden will is my law and 
I shall obey thee for ever more.”
 
But God made no answer, and like a mighty tempest passed away.

And after a thousand years I ascended the holy mountain and 
again spoke unto God, saying, “Creator, I am thy creation.  Out 
of clay hast thou fashioned me and to thee I owe mine all.”
 
And God made no answer, but like a thousand swift wings passed away.
 
And after a thousand years I climbed the holy mountain and 
spoke unto God again, saying, “Father, I am thy son.  In pity 
and love thou hast given me birth, and through love and 
worship I shall inherit thy kingdom.”
 
And God made no answer, and like the mist that veils the distant 
hills he passed away.

And after a thousand years I climbed the sacred mountain 
and again spoke unto God, saying, “My God, my aim and my 
fulfillment; I am thy yesterday and thou are my tomorrow.  I am 
thy root in the earth and thou art my flower in the sky, and 
together we grow before the face of the sun.”
 
Then God leaned over me, and in my ears whispered words 
of sweetness, and even as the sea that enfoldeth a brook that 
runneth down to her, he enfolded me.
 
And when I descended to the valleys and the plains God was there also.