Lost religion...

an old scar revisited, please stop spewing religion to me, I have my own beliefs...Amen

You kiss the gray, 

   without doubting fluidity 

in validity's lividity 

true colors discourage faith 

   flying without wings,

          in sing- song's 

       ambushed blindness

sad melody of flippant travesty 

   swallowed the pill of crazy  

    taught to be elusively blithe 

played in rote from beginning's rhyme

     vinyl scratches misses and hits 

empty tanks given notes of faction's repose 

      believe the temporary sleeping giants 

not to be awakened within osculation 

    torn from the loins of lion's dens 

   sweet mysteries of yesteryear, 

     bitterly twisted lusting embers,  

never snuffed out in a place of retention 

    lives within the confines of distance skies 

broken trusts swallowed and dispersed 

    my eyes roll back in my head for sight, 

fleeting recognition of stories unfolded

                           once upon a time 

     dream a dream if slumber should awake thee,

taken out of the equation of perception 

   no words that make sense but pierce the soul 

      lost my religion with the plot  

pricked by the thorny rose a thousand wishes deep

Author's Note

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

sad melody of flippant travesty
swallowed the pill of crazy
taught to be elusively blithe
played in rote from beginning's rhyme

UFF DA! Ok I'll bite. (but not hard) first this is a powerful write and I think those lines speak loudest to me. I am a Christian. I have a relationship with God. (its dysfunctional - we're working on that) and that's the key. When you take it by rote, when you swallow the pill and you never ever look God square in the eye and make it personal - when you dole out judgement for your laundry list of sin's based on someone else's hierarchy of almostbutnotquitegoodenough all you're going to get is scorn from those you're trying to help. If God can reach a human in the darkest place - who the hell are you to wait until that person is sanitized for your convenience. Only God can change a heart - and the heart has to be agreeable to the change. Period. I get this poem Miss Frieda. If it offends someone - that someone needs to do a heart check, you know? Bravo!

[Frieda P]

You covered what I left out, I don't impose my beliefs on anyone else, I expect the same courtesy, don't know why 'they' think it gives them carte blanche to judge, isn't that un-Jesus like? Thanks for your thoughts Tam....and my sentiments exactly!

[Madalyn Beck]

I am a firm believer, but I understand that you cannot force someone to change who does not want to. We all think and see things differently. That is the beauty God created to begin with. Let's not judge others for how they believe, and let's not try to force everyone to believe the exact same thing. If they decide to change their beliefs, then so be it.

This write is powerful. It is sad to see the frustration of what believers might push uppon those who do not. Great job. :)

[Frieda P]

I'm not sure what you're a firm believe in, God or the church, but whichever I respect that....it's the people that think their way is the only way that makes me blow a gasket! :) Thanks Mads, nice to see you back on my page.

[MomzillaNC]

Trying to make sense of, to find meaning in religion always left me out in the cold too. I gave up on religion long ago -- I gave it up for Faith. My faith has seen me through so much and kept me in one piece; and, I've been hugely blessed by God with a life of true love, joy, intellect, loyal and unflagging friendship, Mercy, Grace, and Peace. Religion is the construct of men's minds, trying to limit the infinite… to overpower the omnipotent for their own debased purpose.

[Frieda P]

I've come to realize that some things will never make sense...and accepted that, but I still have a big mouth and when I see the world in such chaos and much of it done in the name of religion it makes my blood boil, thanks so much Momzilla.

[MomzillaNC]

I'm right there with you! Religion is just another political meat grinder! It has NOTHING to do with Faith.

[Frieda P]

Exactly, love meat grinder, wish I had thought of that for the rant!

[MomzillaNC]

LOL! Glad to help! :D

[redzone]

"losing my religion".... a long time ago I gave it up in the interests of humanity and because it is not true, belief and or faith is not truth... hell, if belief and faith were true we could fly by flapping our arms, virgins thrown into a valcano would bring peace and the sun would revolve around the earth (which would be flat) and there would be god(s) proclaiming the inferiority of blacks, women, native peoples, manifest destiny and chosen peoples and all kinds of nonsense... and if it didn't bring with it such horror and fooked upness in the world these beliefs (and all based on one religion or another, on the existance of god or nirvana) it would actually be funny, as in a joke as in stupidity... people created all sorts of myths and superstitions in attempts to explain the world around them but all myths fall in the light of day and investigation... there is much we don't know or can't explain, doesn't mean we won't or can't discover the whys of things, but to base our lives on a belief we can't or shouldn't know the world around us.. time to eat the apple or whatever is supposedly "forbbiden",

No one can MAKE anyone believe something, but to expouse truth will get you in trouble, may even cause you to lose your life, there are consequences, just as Hypathia, or Galileo, or Copernicus, Nat Turner, or many others who discovered great truths and isn't it revealing that in all these cases it was the religions of the day that dealt the death blows to the idea these brave people brought forth... and it is going on today... from the honor killings and jihad to the manifest desinty and chosen people.. and here's some truth if we keep on believing this BS we just might all find out soon enough there is nothing after we die and extinct ourselves.. but the earth will sigh a breath of relief and get on with healing itself of those stupid, superstitious humans... amen, thank you very much..

so much for my little rant Frieda, "me in the corner, ooooh life, its bigger, that's me in the corner, losing my religion... oh no I've said too much, oh no I haven't said enough..." the world is actually beautiful, if we just stop fooooking it up!!!!

~~redzone

[Frieda P]

Dear Curt, I don't how to respond to this, I like your review better than my poem, I have to agree with all you've said, and thank you for your support and friendship. You've left me speechless, thanks so much... I adore your rant.

Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you

There is much beauty in this world, it's too bad the evil speaks volumes louder....!

[redzone]

not if we SHOUT Frieda.. and you know they say a single spark can start a big fire.... just think what LOUD VOICES can do!!!!` especially if those voices are true and not, whats the word going around .. oh yes NOT OBTUSE!!!! Frieda, you're beautiful and how the hell can someone call you obtuse??? beyond believable HA!! I'm sure you say KL's poem...

[Frieda P]

I've shouted til my heart hurt and my head exploded, how much louder do we need to be? Yep, I've been called a lot of things, and I just might be a lot of them too, but I don't think obtuse is one of them...she's a gem that one.

[willweb]

Oh my, it sounds like someone has preached in a no preaching zone. Frieda P. I usually make it a rule not to discuss religion or politics with others, but I have to agree with you here. My feelings, do what you want, believe what you believe, just don't shove it in my face if you don't want it spit back out at you. Very nice spitting Frieda P. You do spit so beautifully. :)

[Frieda P]

I don't know why people ignore those 'NO PREACHING' signs...haha thanks so much Will. :) I really don't spit but I was about to....

[Coyote Poetry]

I love your words.
"no words that make sense but pierce the soul
lost my religion with the plot
pricked by the thorny rose a thousand wishes deep"
The poem allowed the reader to fall into good thoughts and description. The above closing lines were my favorite. Easy to fall. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Frieda P]

Your kind words humble me John, means a lot coming from you, thanks so much my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome. I enjoy your poetry. You write without fear. Writers must write with open minds.

[Frieda P]

I lived within fear most of my life, I figure it's about time to release it in poetry, thanks again Coyote.

[Baby Ricochet]

As I have made clear on this site I am NOT a believer. The only organized religion I have so much as an ounce of respect for is Buddhism. I've never seen a Buddhist strap C4 to himself and blow up an open air market killing 9 people and maiming dozens more. I've never heard of them forcing their beliefs onto anyone either. Missionary work at the threat of a sword isn't a Buddhist thing. I can respect that. Christianity, as we all well know, has a trail of innocent blood as a guiding light to it's history every bit as much as Islam does so if you're looking for examples of peace and brotherly love in Monotheism, you're going to have to turn a blind eye to a history of bloody atrocities not to mention the obvious intolerance of hatred the religious right is trying to force into our gloriously dysfunctional political system despite our constitution's seperation of church and state. Having seen what I've seen in this life I believe religious extremists (this includes creationist types and literal interpratations of the Bible.) to be some of the most dangerous people on this Earth. It doesn't matter if they're waving a Bible or an AK-47 cause as soon as they put that holy book down, the weapons are coming. Trust me on that. So If you're a believer, and can resist the urge to force the holy book down the throats of the unwilling, that's great, hit the pew and rosary beads and say a prayer for my Godless a*s. I could use the shout out.

[Frieda P]

I think that's the most I've ever heard you say in a review, I can tell this one got to you....and I concur with your review, haven't had to deal with it firsthand as you have thank gawd, but I still feel the pain of atrocities have been done in the name of religion Mark, well said my friend. Your godless a*s has more compassion than a lot of Christians I know, I think you'll be fine...

[Nusquam Esse]

My favourite part of this poem was the last half, it was what really stood out to me; lots of great lines here that are enigmatic and complex, which is something which I do enjoy. mmm... as for the subject itself... I am an atheist, not some half-assed agnostic, I am full blown atheist. I have never had a personal relationship with god, no moments of spirituality, except just being alone in the mountains... I adamantly reject the ideas around it for many reasons, which I will not go into; but I consider them to be a cancer of the mind and part of a system of denial. It has not been easy being an adamant atheist, people in my area are very religious, and a person who rejects god openly is considered a pariah of the highest order. I have had people who treated me kindly, and religion would never come up--I hardly introduce myself by saying "I'm a goddamn heathen" lol--but when it did, they would cut all ties with me, and other people around me would become hostile. Thank goodness that I didn't live hundreds of years ago, in which atheists were tried as criminals and executed. But it is just what I believe, and it extends beyond a mere 'logical argument'. Used to be some people who would come by proselyting me as if I was a lost sheep, and it was incredibly offensive... they showed no respect for the reasons I had to believe what I did, and tried to take a moral high ground; as if their disgusting souls could guide me out of darkness... me, the stoic who lived a more moral life with the exception of believing in god, than any of them... I eventually started stripping down naked when I noticed them at the door, and would invite them in, and just act very 'open' and 'loose', and thankfully they stopped coming around anymore.

[Frieda P]

And I wholeheartedly respect that, who among can prove which is right really? We have our own belief system and not much can change what we feel within our own spirit....yeah no doubt, years ago, being an atheist and a red dragon, they most certainly would have burnt you at the stake toot sweet without hesitation! What a BBQ...

[Nusquam Esse]

hah, those pesky knights with their oaths to god, and their need to prove bravery by taking on this cockatrice... At least I took a few of them with me. :)

[Moonie]

I believe religion is just a substitute of real faith. Faith comes from within. Where there is truth, there is no need for religion. Amen!

A very very powerful poem. It ticks all the right boxes! :))

[Frieda P]

Thanks so much Moon! I concur, too many evil deeds done in the name of and shadows of religion.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

lost my faith in organized religion long ago...feel a strong spiritual bond with God...but the catholic religion just turned me away with its hypocrisy ----I might be doomed, but I believe spirituality is between each individual and God himself...

and people need to live and let live.

[Frieda P]

Hear, hear jacob. I think we come from much the same place being brought up Catholic and going to Catholic schools, I doubt we're doomed, we're not judging anyone, just trying to live peaceably.

[emmajoy]

Read twice and for one, won't say another word to offend or upset you. Must have done so so many times

I'd like to come back to this superb piece of writing. To read other people's interpretation on and of sex, politics and religion can - right or wrong, help flounderers or searchers reach somewhere meaningful. This truly is an emotional and powerful piece of writing, perhaps not merely about faith in a Being.

[Frieda P]

Never sweet petulia, there's a difference in speaking your mind about your own beliefs and trying to impose them on someone else, I don't like being forced fed, and when someone tries to shove their own version of God down my throat, then I choke and write poetry! It's much more, you're so right...it's muchly bigger.

[emmajoy]

Life is choice.. choice about anything and everything - or darned well should be, Really felt this poem.

(You)