If I Must

My god’s name is Love — some say “Lehovah.”
But though nômen ômen est, a word’s
not in the sound but in the speaking;
not in the letters but the reading.
And Moses stuttered.

‘ou gar eisin duo ê polloi synagomenoi eis
to emon onoma, ekei eimi en mesôi autôn

[4 December 1999]