Yes. It's true I wrote I was in the island of Patmos,
Since that is where they exiled me;
But more truly I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day—
Timeless day of unfolding reality;
Of enfolding Love,
More real than stubborn barrenness of Patmos;
Of upholding Truth,
More concrete far than adamant of heart
That banished me to Patmos.
No. I cannot tell whether my Patmos was more bleak than yours.
Scarcely was I aware
Of being there.
You see,
The new heaven and new earth of spiritual reality
Was all around,
Burgeoning and blossoming, iridescent with Love's light;
And the sound
Of glorious alleluias praising God
Was everywhere;
And sorrow and death all passed away;
Nothing to fear.
My little children,
In your little Patmoses with private gloom
See heavenly city, New Jerusalem.
Accept reality, coincidence of heaven on earth,
And stay
Bathed in its sunless brilliance with me, in the Spirit,
On the Lord's day.
