"Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden" by Johann Wenzel‘There Is No God?’ by Michael Charles Maibach The Society August 19, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 22 Comments . There Is No God? “There is no God,” Some men do say. This doubt, some voice, And claim this day. If God is myth Who gave us eyes? Who gave us joy? Who paints blue skies? Have they no dog, Have they no wife, Have they no child So full of life? Awake each morn, And thankful not? Not on their knees For all they’ve got? How does the sun Rise in the east? Look now around— Life is a feast! How moves our heart? Who made our friends? Who made these hands For wounds to mend? There is no God? Just chance and dust? Life is in vain? In naught we trust? Be still your mind, Let your heart free, Let feelings in… There God will be. . . Michael Charles Maibach began writing poems at age nine. Since then he has continued writing poems, and sharing them with friends. His career has involved global business diplomacy. He is a native of Peoria, Illinois. Today Michael resides in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. More of his poems are found at www.MaibachPoems.us or on Facebook. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 22 Responses Sally Cook August 19, 2022 Life is a feast. Thank you, Michael. Reply Michael Charles Maibach August 19, 2022 I appreciate your kind words, Sally. Michael Reply Michael Pietrack August 19, 2022 Romans 1:20 For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable. Reply Roy E. Peterson August 19, 2022 Stark truths like these embedded in your poem should stimulate logical minds to one inescapable conclusion. There has to be some supernatural being we call God who brought order out of chaos. Reply Cheryl Corey August 19, 2022 Michael, I read your poem with great interest, as just this week I’ve been questioning the existence of God. Can the universe really be that random? Reply James Sale August 19, 2022 Wonderful and provoking poem, Michael, thank you. And Cheryl, I think arguments (in the head) persuade nobody, for it is only in the heart that the soul speaks and more importantly hears … but that said, here are some interesting pointers: ‘Multiverse devotees … accept a package of wonders, including a universe-generating mechanism … By providing an all-too-easy explanation for anything that has happened or may happen, the multiverse ends up explaining nothing at all … A random miracle is arguably less scientific than a theistic miracle. The former has no identifiable cause, mechanism, or rationality; the latter allows the identification of both cause, means, and rationale’ Paul Davies/Bruce Gordon Reply Peg August 19, 2022 What a precious poem, Michael… thank you! Reply Joseph S. Salemi August 19, 2022 I wonder if Mr. Maibach is writing this poem as a direct references to the famous poem by Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861), titled “There Is No God.” That piece begins with several quatrains that describe the sorts of persons who tend to be atheists, and the reasons they give for their disbelief. But Clough ends with these three incisive quatrains: But country folks who live beneath The shadow of the steeple; The parson and the parson’s wife, And mostly married people; Youths green and happy in first love, So thankful for illusion; And men caught out in what the world Calls guilt, in first confusion; And almost everyone when age, Disease, or sorrows strike him, Inclines to think there is a God, Or something very like him. This last quatrain reminds me of what military chaplains say about men who experience combat: “There are no atheists in the trenches.” Reply James Sale August 19, 2022 Great reference Joe. And true – there are no atheists in the trenches; why even Capaneus believed in Zeus as he assaulted the walls of Thebes. Reply Norma Pain August 20, 2022 Everyone with eyes that see, or hearts that feel, know God is key. A lovely, inspirational poem, thank you Michael. Reply Michael Charles Maibach August 20, 2022 Thank you Norma. God bless. Michael Reply Satyananda Sarangi August 21, 2022 Hello Mr. Michael. What a great, uplifting poem! This describes how an atheist transforms through spirituality. A gem of a poem! Thank you and best wishes. Reply Michael Charles Maibach August 21, 2022 Many thanks Satyananda! God bless you. Michael Reply Alena Casey August 21, 2022 Unfortunately, too many people today do not have wives and children, one of God’s greatest gifts and reminders of his grace! Reply AB Brown August 21, 2022 For some reason I laughed when I read the line, ‘In naught we trust?’—so true, could be a motto for many living today, the implicit caption to every lurid and inane Instagram post. Last stanza quite moving. Stillness, freedom, emotional authenticity. These things are the essence of spirituality. I can tell, Michael, that you are a very genuine guy. This impression is confirmed when I Google you and see pictures of you in a bow tie. Only genuine people have the courage to wear bow ties today. Reply James Sale August 21, 2022 You are so right Andrew: I met Michael and was on stage with him at the Princeton Club in 2019 at an SCP event. He is a great guy! Reply Michael Charles Maibach August 21, 2022 Many thanks James. You are my favorite Brit! Hello to Linda. Michael Michael Charles Maibach August 21, 2022 Hello AB. Thanks for your kind words. A man who writes poetry and wears bow ties is way out there on the ledge! 😉 Michael Reply Janice Canerdy August 21, 2022 I truly enjoyed this expressive, deeply reverent poem! Reply Michael Charles Maibach September 9, 2022 Many thanks Janice! God bless, Michael Reply David Watt August 22, 2022 Thank you Michael for this uplifting piece. We do need to count our blessings, and give thanks to God. Reply weewayne September 8, 2022 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. – Psalm 14:1 Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Michael Pietrack August 19, 2022 Romans 1:20 For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable. Reply
Roy E. Peterson August 19, 2022 Stark truths like these embedded in your poem should stimulate logical minds to one inescapable conclusion. There has to be some supernatural being we call God who brought order out of chaos. Reply
Cheryl Corey August 19, 2022 Michael, I read your poem with great interest, as just this week I’ve been questioning the existence of God. Can the universe really be that random? Reply
James Sale August 19, 2022 Wonderful and provoking poem, Michael, thank you. And Cheryl, I think arguments (in the head) persuade nobody, for it is only in the heart that the soul speaks and more importantly hears … but that said, here are some interesting pointers: ‘Multiverse devotees … accept a package of wonders, including a universe-generating mechanism … By providing an all-too-easy explanation for anything that has happened or may happen, the multiverse ends up explaining nothing at all … A random miracle is arguably less scientific than a theistic miracle. The former has no identifiable cause, mechanism, or rationality; the latter allows the identification of both cause, means, and rationale’ Paul Davies/Bruce Gordon Reply
Joseph S. Salemi August 19, 2022 I wonder if Mr. Maibach is writing this poem as a direct references to the famous poem by Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861), titled “There Is No God.” That piece begins with several quatrains that describe the sorts of persons who tend to be atheists, and the reasons they give for their disbelief. But Clough ends with these three incisive quatrains: But country folks who live beneath The shadow of the steeple; The parson and the parson’s wife, And mostly married people; Youths green and happy in first love, So thankful for illusion; And men caught out in what the world Calls guilt, in first confusion; And almost everyone when age, Disease, or sorrows strike him, Inclines to think there is a God, Or something very like him. This last quatrain reminds me of what military chaplains say about men who experience combat: “There are no atheists in the trenches.” Reply
James Sale August 19, 2022 Great reference Joe. And true – there are no atheists in the trenches; why even Capaneus believed in Zeus as he assaulted the walls of Thebes. Reply
Norma Pain August 20, 2022 Everyone with eyes that see, or hearts that feel, know God is key. A lovely, inspirational poem, thank you Michael. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi August 21, 2022 Hello Mr. Michael. What a great, uplifting poem! This describes how an atheist transforms through spirituality. A gem of a poem! Thank you and best wishes. Reply
Alena Casey August 21, 2022 Unfortunately, too many people today do not have wives and children, one of God’s greatest gifts and reminders of his grace! Reply
AB Brown August 21, 2022 For some reason I laughed when I read the line, ‘In naught we trust?’—so true, could be a motto for many living today, the implicit caption to every lurid and inane Instagram post. Last stanza quite moving. Stillness, freedom, emotional authenticity. These things are the essence of spirituality. I can tell, Michael, that you are a very genuine guy. This impression is confirmed when I Google you and see pictures of you in a bow tie. Only genuine people have the courage to wear bow ties today. Reply
James Sale August 21, 2022 You are so right Andrew: I met Michael and was on stage with him at the Princeton Club in 2019 at an SCP event. He is a great guy! Reply
Michael Charles Maibach August 21, 2022 Many thanks James. You are my favorite Brit! Hello to Linda. Michael
Michael Charles Maibach August 21, 2022 Hello AB. Thanks for your kind words. A man who writes poetry and wears bow ties is way out there on the ledge! 😉 Michael Reply
David Watt August 22, 2022 Thank you Michael for this uplifting piece. We do need to count our blessings, and give thanks to God. Reply
weewayne September 8, 2022 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. – Psalm 14:1 Reply