Poem 017, Sonnet 6: I, The Pagan Poem by Samer Madbak

The world has fallen through, a stunning fall,
And sick humanity cannot arise
But, I the pagan, who has raised a wall,
'Tween God and me, how can I agonize?

The world is sunken deep in phantom faiths
Pathetic people magnify their fear
But I, the pagan, idolize no wraiths
Of man’s crippled conception, foul and queer,

The world is locked in doctrines pitiable
And man is glad in gilded slavery
Yet I, the pagan, ne’er lamentable,
Delight in freedom, bask in blasphemy

Because it’s me whom I am keen to laud
Self-worship, and my self my only god!


Beirut
October 11th 1987