THE PRIME IMPERATIVE

    If there’s no God, some Person in the sky
    Whom we must fear and reverently obey,
    And whom it is forbidden to deny,
    What happens then to those who would say nay?

    Nothing.  Except responsibility—
    For now they realize that everyone
    Of us must cultivate integrity
    Without which this world’s promise is undone.

    We’ve now evolved enough to realize
    Implicit in the cosmos is a plan
    That we have gained insight to realize,
    Which is the prime directive of our clan:

         Our mandate is to cultivate and nourish
         Whatever causes life on Earth to flourish.

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