CRUCIFIED

I cried to men, "I would be crucified!" 

And they said, "Why should your blood be upon our heads?" 

And I answered, "How else shall you be exalted except by 
crucifying madmen?" 

And they heeded and I was crucified. And the crucifixion 
appeased me. 

And when I was hanged between earth annd heaven they lifted 
up their heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their 
heads had never before been lifted. 

But as they stood looking up at me one called out, 
"For what art thou seeking atone?" 

And another cried, "In what cause dost thou sacrifice thyself?" 

And a third said, "Thinkest thou with this price to buy world 
glory?" 

Then said a fourth, "Behold, how he smiles! Can such pain be 
forgiven?" 

And I answered them all, and said: 

"Remember only that I smiled. I do not atone -- nor sacrifice -- 
nor wish for glory; and I have nothing to forgive. I thirsted -- 
and I besought you to give me my blood to drink. For what is 
there can quench a madman's thirst but his own blood? I was 
dumb -- and I asked wounds of you for mouths. I was imprisoned 
on your days and nights -- and I sought a door into larger days 
and nights. 

And now I go -- as others already crucified have gone. And think 
not we are weary of crucifixion. For we must be crucified by 
larger and yet larger men, between greater earths and greater 
heavens."