Bedrock Theology

A cagy Pelagian exhorted me,
Claiming to be merely a Manichaean.
"I learned this on an isle in the Aegean,"
He told me, "where I studied Anarchy."
I thought he moved with some uncertainty.
"You understand that grace is too plebeian,
Like a Tongan claiming he's Korean.
There is no right or wrong. We're all at sea."

So we began to argue. "Yes, it's true,"
I could allow, "that Logic has no sway,
But I remember you said, yesterday,
That new is old, but old's not always new."
"Perhaps," he shrugged. "Or not." When we were through
A sudden wind blew all our thoughts away.