shoving it up…

now
if
the promised heaven
is
important to you
you
may want
to
follow
the prescription
of
gospel doctors
those
folks
occupying
pulpits
on
fridays
saturdays
or
sundays
and
increase
your
contributions
to
their
more than worthy cause
hell
you may even
elect to
help paint
the
preacher’s manse
but
i’ll assure
even before
the
paint
begins
to
dry
you’ll start
to
wonder
perhaps
because
of
the paint fumes
why you’re spending
so
much time
doing
what could be
contracted out
if
other
parishioners
would
or
could
feel
the spirit
of
god
in their souls
you know
the ones
who claim
to
be moved
to
be disciples
as
long as
it
doesn’t cost
them
any money
just
words
it’s at that point
you consider
putting
the paintbrush down
and
stuffing it up
someplace
else

 

 

problematic proverb…

getting used
to
the mud
on
my shoes
for
no matter
how
hard
i try
i can’t
seem
to
get it loose
sometimes
it weight
me
down
making it hard
for
me
to move
freely
seems
there’s a stigma
about
folks
with muddy shoes
they’re
not allowed
in
fancy restaurants
for fear
the mud
might rub off
on
alligator shoes
and
fancy texas boots
hell
i’ve even heard
that
folks
with mud on their shoes
can’t
even vote
or
have to wade
through
a swamp
before
getting
a chance
at
the lottery
of
freedom
but
what bothers
me most
is that
i’ve heard
some folks
have died
because
they had mud
on
their shoes
seems to me
that
a lot of people
have
left out
the moral purity
part
of
cleanliness is
next to
godliness

revised divine inspiration…

the word
of
god
has been
revised
to be
more
appropriate
for
today’s
cultural needs
and
desires
those
biblical texts
that
were
supposedly
inspired
by
god
and
written
by
god’s hand
in
stone
must be
updated
to fit
current financial
and
political needs
so
those
apparently
representing
god
have been
encouraged
to
provide
extensive
necessary
revisions
seems
the
omniscient
mind
of
god
has
changed

the gods discount center…

although the names change
they all share common tenets
first deny what’s real
then accept the written word
given by an unseen god
an unseen god that
only has private briefings
with select prophets
who were moved to write his words
in order to save us all
that is all that will
not question what’s been written
and of course provide
for the prophet’s earthly needs
as down payment towards heaven

 

behavioral modification…

the names
of
their true
gods
adorn
their bumper stickers
embossed
with
their
mindless mantras
those
carefully contrived
scriptures
from
an ad agency
after being
thoroughly
researched
by
behavioral scientists
and
predicted
to be
on par
with
the gospel
convincing
even
saints
to vote
for
the devil

 

no forwarding address…

want to contact god
but despite my best efforts
there’s no new address
the old church hangouts are now
sublet to vain charlatans

 

the modern peter syndrome…

faithful church goers
talking ’bout others sins
but turn a blind eye
to all the president’s sins
thus denying their true god

 

when the service ends…

 

the police report
noted the beast was concealed
surprised witnesses
claim worship was quite normal
but just outside the entry
faith’s face was strewn on the ground

 

i’ll follow your lead…

aunt bea
said
your
crazy cousin
called me
the one
whose appearance
at church
involves
an entourage
her children
second husband
and
lesser friends
dragged there
to hear her sing
another off-tune hymn
and
as is always
the case
she was up in my face
’bout her latest
good cause
without pause
encouraging me
to support
her
charity
but
as you may recall
all she ever does
is
talk
so i said
honey
why don’t you just
write
the check
this
time

dark passages 2:4…

and on
the fourth day
of battle
heretics read
the names
of the dead
an incantation
changing scars
into
seeping wounds
on the tender flesh
of hope
bringing
the bitter-tasting
regurgitated poison
of centuries
of hate
into
the mouth
of tomorrow
souring
even
the sweet nectar
of youth