Benedictions of a Political Atheist

 

Benedictions of a political atheist

 

At four I was a communist

Surely dedicated to the idea that all should be equal

It was the most perfect solution

To explain why I shouldn’t have to ever remove

The crayon marks from the wall

I wanted all available admiration to

Fall on my shoulders,

having already learnt how to be

insecure

By six I had become a socialist

My stuttering reform just beginning to take shape

Each doll at the table had a share of the tea

Though I hardly loved them equally

I packed for pogroms that never raised a curtain

But I gave that up at eight deciding

My vote was worth more weight

As a solo performance

I could sit on horseback, western style

Hands tucked under the reins

The world an oyster of my making

My life a pearl rolling

And then there was twenty

When I become an independent

Giving up meat, and advocating for green living

I applied all sorts of lotions

Looking for the perfect SPF

Where yet a tan might be acquired

While fail safe I’d yet become inured to the

Brilliance of the sun

And any other love that might wander within

My arena

By thirty the one sure thing

Had been replaced a thousand times over

And God had been translated to several

Languages

I spoke less than ever

I dreamt in full color, surround sound blasting my repose

Security wobbled around like a carnival clown

Smiling at his own set of jokes

I learnt to be adept at waiting

While biting my tongue all the while

I have decided to give more of my blessings

Even while hesitating with endorsements

I have become that political atheist

Who refuses to participate in the polls

I would rather be absent in those counts

Where the materialistic and arbitrary manifestations

Of demigods reign

Those who love me

And who I love back

Are now my only affiliations….

 

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

This is clever, but it rises above mere cleverness--the use of language, the sophistication elevates above garden-variety clever. I found some of the short lines (e.g., the 8th, 28th, 30th, 34th) odd--they didn't seem to be short for any particular purpose. Still, that's a fairly minor complaint with a very intelligent piece of work.

[Tara Jean Olson]

debbie, As a poetic statement, I thoroughly enjoyed this. However, as an American citizen, we have a moral obligation to be involved in our government (as dysfunctional as it seems!)