An Epiphany

I have a friend who claims that she will return here reborn one day The essence of morality bereft of our mortal decay

Payton and I

I have a friend who says that she

will return here reborn one day

The essence of morality

bereft of our mortal decay

 

She claims only those who believe

will be allowed to live here then

This tapestry her god will weave

from all faithful women and men

 

I have a little misgiving

that I pose to a faithful few

What is it makes life worth living

if not the character we hew

 

Tolerance be the holy way

humility tempers us true

So why curtail what others say

as if this world were just for you

Our religions seem a bit grim

even somewhat selfish at best

Save ourselves by worshiping him

and to hell with all of the rest

 

No good man worships another

nor our father wish that from you

He'd rather you helped your brother

as any good father would do

If the Word be Truth let it shine

and echo out over the seas

May the Dreams be both yours and mine

as the winds that blow through the trees

 

Author's Note

Born and raised a Catholic I still find I often think on this conundrum. Why would a god want worship anymore than a father of his children? It would seem counter productive for a god to demand worship of you at the same time telling you as a father to be humble. God did not give me a brain to follow others like sheep. It would be wrong not to use it to question the concepts we hold dear. If this upsets someone I am sorry. Not for the idea but for the injury. I am forced by nature to question all we hold dear.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking poem. For all of those who worship "God" for the sake of their own skins, forsaking all the rest, I wonder what that same "God" thinks of him being forsaken for all the rest. So many profess to believe; and yet, they try to mold God in the shape of man rather than the other way around.

Take any issue: abortion, same-sex marriage, couples living together before marriage, etc.; and one can clearly see how society as a whole has forsaken "God" in favor of themselves. Even those who act most fervently in the name of their "God," do so for their own selfish reasons that have nothing to do with God.

Beware the man - the beast - as lamb.

[Tate Morgan]

It is funny how god takes on our characteristics isnt it

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Predictable and true. :-)

[TJ]

Again, the cadence and rhythm are very good!
I have often asked myself this question! Why would God put all this effore into creating us just to gain our worship. Sounds very narcissistic (sp?)
very good

[Kenneth The Poet]

Wow, even I was moved by this piece despite my overall disdain for organized religion. I am Catholic myself, and I find it very hard to reconcile the loving God with the God that sends all recalcitrants to a sulphurous hell. To me, that is not the definition of father, but of despotism. I think your view of a God from this poem (if I can infer it as such) is one more toward a Universalist point of view. I don't know, I could be wrong but your work is magnificent.

[ScarlettTheDreamer]

Nice poem. There's an old saying here that goes something like "Service to people is service to God" and I believe that to be true. Is not it enough to respect and care for those around us to please God? and your idea supports it well. No God demands surrender :)

[Siddhartha]

Oh, you have done a wonderful job here Tate. Serving others and working selflessly is worship itself. God doesn't want anything else. The rest was, is and shall always remain the figments of imagination of lesser mortals.

[Kenneth Sibbett]

The Irish song was a nice touch. Great Job!

[Bejn Jonathon Edwards]

Very powerful. Loved it.

[Jamie S.]

We would not question things had our intuiton not lead us too. I applaud you for writing about such a controversial subject, I agree with you whole heartedly. Thank you for sharing :)

[Cassandra D.]

This was a very wonderful poem. The rhyme was amazing. This poem surely does makes the reader think twice. Thank you for sharing this poem with us.

[Tiz Poetry]

you won me with the song but, 'No good man worships another
nor our father wish that from you
He'd rather you helped your brother
while in life those wonders renew'
... if only the many would stop screaming so they can hear the wisdom of the one... thank you for the inspiration and read i really felt this one, yet i can't speak on my standing because i am still learning "
If the word be truth, it shall shine
and echo out over the seas"

[patricia]

Great poem, loved the picture, I laughed when I read ...and to hell with all the rest, Im a catholic myself, after years of conflict, I kinda glimpsed the idea of the freedom to be chained concept. I mix in societies where people of all faiths and no faiths come together, as I am a member of a twelve step group. My religion has deepened because it has been experiential...I too am afraid my ideas will offend others, I don't think people who arent of my faith are going to hell, The church I go to is full of hypocrites, but like someone said to me when I mentioned this..."we have always room for one more". Thanks