a certain ordinance

a certain ordinance

the fragile existence of 

a deity

day to day

in the hearts of those rickety

old souls

on the threshold 

of wavering away

from believing in 

one-way tickets to paradise

in the end, where will our loyalties land

with all the interference

at what point do we still find acceptance

conviction in something more than ourselves

our will 

our survival

our prayers measured

our epitaph required

with some holy words

mixed in to synchronize

with the expected

the measured

the required.

erin-cilberto

12/14/24

Reviews

[mymind]

Nice poem but do we need to live our life according to societal norms ? That will be burden for our soul.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

It sure would be, mymind. Thanks for understanding and for your visit,
j.

[Lorry]

My overall thought on religions is that they either have too much carrot to persuade you that your reward begins after this life ends, or too much stick, used to keep people down, when I think we could all be doing a better job of making our reward this life we have in the here and now.
I like how you add emphasis to the expected, the measured and the required.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think we might just be expected to be who we are...that is all we can really do, logically.
Organized religion often has other ideas.
thank you, Lorry,
j.

[Eilis]

The biggest problem presented by religion is that it presents a scenario whereby believers feel they may or must hurt others to maintain the balance of their beliefs. So much darkness has been brought by organized religion and the fragility of belief is part of the dynamic that allows this. That and the power that results from being able to control segments of the population by making them believe a deity commands certain things and will reward or punish based on behavior.

Many atrocities have been committed within this circle. And the improvable nature of god creates a space where anything goes “just in case.” I have been a believer my whole life. Christ was a wonderful example of what it means to embrace humanity and throw oneself into being a humble, caring person. But watching the sway of the church—all it condones and promotes in this moment—I quite often don’t feel comfortable aligning with those values.

Your poem speaks to me of the importance of understanding our beliefs and motives and how others might seek to exploit them. Being free to examine, question, and rethink beliefs is an important part of development that can be stunted by rigidity. And stagnation can lead to dark places. Thoughtful work, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I surely agree with everything you said here, Eilis.
Religion cannot dictate us...we are what we believe and who we believe we are.
Thank you for your words,
j.

[Pryde Foltz]

We tend to be promised or promise ourselves something better in the future, but we never get there. It is always now. I wary of anyone who promises something in the future; most religions are like this ... pie in the sky future promises. That is how you know they are making it up and just hoping or worse manipulating. Every now and then ... I realize it is always there ... wordless and and alas promiseless. It's irnonic, I think:)

As always top-notch poetry found on your page:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, the future is now...and always will be.
Thank you for your insightful words, Pryde.
read moreYes, the future is now...and always will be.
Thank you for your insightful words, Pryde.
j.