poems

I have seen some things
things I should not have seen
I have done some things
things I should not have done
I have been the cause of things
things that have had terrible consequences
I have driven straight towards the oncoming train
when I had every opportunity to avoid it
the only advantage I can see
against these self-inflicted stumbles
is a belief in a man who died
two thousand years ago and promised to
absolve me of all the stupid shit I-ve done
if only I ask

you want a debate
but there is no fight in me
you ask if I have seen the latest
statistics and figures released
by the national something for
the Christian whatever
that says abortions are up
and church attendance is down

how do I feel about that?

just the other day you tell me
new evidence suggest that
the most accurate translation
of scripture is confirmed to be
the King James Bible and how all
the others misrepresent the true
Greek and Hebrew meaning

you forgot to ask if I care

all of this
debating debating debating
make me want to scream in your face:
why is there always something wrong
with you?

I know you blame liberals and the unchurched
for running God out of the country but
when I look around things aren-t that bad

remind me of the last thing you ever changed

you can-t even change my mind

church is canceled, she said,
the democrats have won the House
and the Senate and the Presidency
we are going home to pray for God’s
mercy on this country…

what the hell? I said,
is it really that bad?

yes it is, and worse
they will destroy democracy
and take away our fundamental freedoms
and cause God to place a curse on the land.

all of that,
really?

yes, something has to be done
there is a march schedule for this week
we need to take the government back
do you want to go up there with us?

tell them, I said, to calm down
and stop watching so much
political propaganda.

are you always this fucking naive, she said
slamming the church doors in my face.

uh-huh, I said, just another
fine example of faith in action.