Ritual and Creed

Ritual and creed,
both unifying and dividing,
the substance of a force
both nebulous and defining,
proclaiming peace
but the cause of war,
forever studied,
but never fully understood
or certainly never agreed upon.

Grampy never questioned, yet
he never really believed
in the pomp of his weekly routine.
His ritual was simple -
he lived a Good life.
His creed was expressed
in words strange to me
a half century ago,
"In you I see God,
and he is smiling."
Now I see my son,
and I understand.