Looking East

Standing in the ocean with the sun burning low in the west Like a fire in the cavernous darkness at the heart of the beast With my beliefs and possessions, stopped at the frontier in my chest At the edge of my country, my back to the sea, looking east Where the search for the truth is conducted with a wink and a nod And where power and position are equated with the grace of God These times are famine for the soul while for the senses it's a feast From the edge of my country, as far as you see, looking east Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon Hunger in the mansion, hunger in the rented room Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the laughing and the rage In the absence of light And the deepening night Where I wait for the sun Looking east How long have I left my mind to the powers that be? How long will it take to find the higher power moving in me? Power in the insect Power in the sea Power in the snow falling silently Power in the blossom Power in the stone Power in the song being sung alone Power in the wheatfield Power in the rain Power in the sunlight and the hurricane Power in the silence Power in the flame Power in the sound of the lover's name The power of the sunrise and the power of a prayer released On the edge of my country, I pray for the ones with the least Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon Hunger in the banquet, hunger in the bride and groom Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the questions of the age And an absence of light In the deepening night Where I wait for the sun Looking east