The Desert of Sin

How could we have imagined
that the Lord was not with us?
The cloud hung low, the fire burned;
the manna fell like petals.
But we wanted something else:
that day, we called it water.
In other days, it would take
other shapes and colors:
that little bit we reserve
in some dark corner
to prove to ourselves
that we own something.
Why should the Lord own all the earth?
Why does he grudge us our small crumbs?
Why do we wander this desert
when his angels could carry us?
We asked, is the Lord with us or not?
What we wanted to know was:
Why won't he do our bidding,
like a dog that comes when called?