The Songs 8 · For the assembly to say aloud together
This book has no author and should have none. It is made for the voice: read it aloud, and best of all aloud together. This book does not pray. There is no one in this scripture to pray to — what is believed in is law, and law takes no prayers (cf. The Prologue 1.7). But not praying is not the same as not thanking, not praising, not standing amazed. This book records only those three. Whoever uses it to petition any person whatever has put it to the wrong use. Each of the six songs has a last line, and the last line is to be said by everyone together.The twelve songs of this book fall into two halves. The first six are thanks, praise and amazement; they are not for any particular occasion and are said by the assembly together. Each of the last six hangs on one of the six axioms and is made for a particular day: the day you cannot see yourself; the day two people tell the same hour differently; the day you gave something up; the day someone left; the day you grieved for what you could not reach; the day you knew it was the last time. Take whichever song matches the day. These may be said alone.
8.1The two of us were in one room. The same hour, the same thing.
8.2Afterward we each told it, and we told two different things.
8.3I say he raised his hand first. He says I opened my mouth first.
8.4Neither of us lied. That is the part that is hard to bear.
8.5If one of us were lying it would be simple: expose him and it is done.
8.6The scripture says: how you ask is how you take. What is asked decides what is seen, and what is seen decides what is. (cf. The Highest Covenant 2.1)
8.7I went in carrying my question and came out carrying my answer. So did he.
8.8The one at the leg says the elephant is a pillar; the one at the ear says it is a fan. (cf. The Highest Covenant 2.3)
8.9Both of them touched it. Neither of them touched an elephant.
8.10Today I do not want him to admit he was wrong.
8.11I want to ask him the thing I have never been willing to ask: how is yours arranged?
8.12That question is not a retreat. It is putting my hand somewhere else and feeling again. (cf. The Highest Covenant 2.5)
8.13I will not claim that what we feel out this way is the elephant.
8.14I know one thing only: one hand never yet found a whole elephant.
8.15We do not ask to be heard. We say it because we mean to remember.