where shall i bury what is left of me the parts unseen naked dreams not talked about in polite company for fear of offending an unseen flock that dresses in robes of self-righteous tenets sheep wandering the alleys and gutters little lost lambs seeking a fix of cocaine-like religion heated in a spoon with stained glass windows by fiery pulpit words never considering that the rules apply to them as well as those they burn at the stake
all the words
and verses had not changed
he had said these words a thousand times
and a thousand times he said them with faith
but today
he felt as if he were just an actor
one waiting for godot
staring out into the sea of souls
some lost among the coral reefs of disbelief
seeking to find the beacon of truth
that would free them from themselves
others
too sure of what they knew
dawned pious smiles when he said
what they wanted to hear
otherwise
they frowned at him
as he stood in the pulpit
he wondered
could he say those words
without
his faith intact
if they sensed his doubt
would they rise up from the pews
and proclaim him a heretic
or claim that their faith was undaunted
by what they had seen in the world
had they studied the word
as a lover studies their love
they would understand its history
but they do not know or care
who the scribes were
those founders of this society of believers
the codependency of this relationship
means he dares not tell them the truth
his cross would be that of the malefactor
who did not repent
but this man has done nothing
his questions have come with age
and studies to find true meaning
just to answer those daunting questions
formed from so many years of religious grief
wondering how men meeting in secret
could design and decide
on what was best for mankind
a committee
producing sacred writings
marketing their beliefs as if for profit
he wonders am i now a non-believer
or am i like a lover
whose love has waned
over the years
progessing from insatiable passion
to a deeper love and understanding
or is this grounds
for divorce…
brown ones
black ones
makes no difference
he’ll make them shine
been here on this corner
most of his life
shining shoes
for a dollar 25 and tips
some young folks
walk by and turn their eyes away
thinking he must be a fool
shining the man’s shoes
but come sunday
from the pulpit of his church
he talks about what he’s learned
bout folks who judge
but don’t want to be judged
Read Between the Minds 