Robes.

My thoughts after reading "The Rites" by Matt Baglio

The holy men in their black robes,

Spouting innate ramblings of peace and love,

Honour thy neighbours and families,

As long as you pray to the dove.

Take his body and blood,

Cleanse your soul and mind,

Glancing at the altars helpers,

Feeling that sick little grind.

Preaching solidly about poverty the virtue,

Helping others in defiance of ones all,

Black robes living in their ivory towers,

Gorging on decadence off the eager fall.

A solid union in a powerful city,

Closed ranks under a voted leader,

Silent side glances and rumours,

Empire splits by this very reader.

Author's Note

I may regret this, but honesty please! x

Reviews

[Aella.lives]

I may like this more because I agree with everything you have said, however I have never read "The Rites" by Matt Baglio, and I have no way to know how it reflects to that work. But I love this piece and it's honesty to the world that you see about these 'holy' men.

[Coyote Poetry]

I do my best to stay away from religion. The history is filled with terror when a church tried to change the world to their view. I have study history all my life. A lot of dark times. The rape and pillage error was controlled by a church desiring wealth and new believers. There is honest and truth in your words. Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[Brantwijn]

I haven't read "The Rites", but standing alone, I really like the imagery you've built up here. I enjoy the fact that you never explicitly state anything about priests, the Vatican, the church, or Catholicism, and yet your intent and tone make the subject matter very clear. I feel like this poem is both critical of the "holy men", and at the same time somewhat pitying. It's not out-and-out scathing but seems to view them as terribly misguided. I feel like it does allow for some acknowledgment of the virtues that -could- be present, but are worn away by cynicism and selfishness. My only suggestion is that for some reason, the "sick little grind" line seemed out of place. I think that, of all the poem, it may be the least subtle and the most outwardly aggressive "accusation". At the same time, I wouldn't advise removing the insinuation of molestation: it's a VERY real and VERY damning point. So I'm not sure what to do about that line... perhaps nothing really needs to be done at all. Could it be moved a little closer to the other lines that directly relate to corruption and hypocrisy? It simply sort of plunged in there all the sudden, is all.

[Wendy Seames Garner]

OK, I had to look it up...Matt Baglio's book The Rites is about a priest who travels to Rome to be trained it the rite of exorcism. I'm not sure what this poem has to do with exorcism...unless it is your way of removing the bad memories and experiences you endured as an altar boy? I was raised a Methodist, so I don't know a lot about the Catholic Religion. Of course, I have heard all the horrible accounts of abuse by Priests. This is one reason I'm not a big fan of organized religion.

[Miss Marie Riorden.]

I've never heard of this piece you've seemed to have read, but now I want to.
Sounds a lot like Christianity if you ask me. But it is a powerful piece indeed and you did well to pen this down.
I do like how you adress the last line, that is very interesting.
The rhyming is also interesting. A piece that will catch your attention.
-Marie Riorden-

[Brandon S. Whitten]

Yes, already read it, love it and want to marry it :) Oh and there's my review and a picture of you, so handsome;)

[Priya]

I must admit, I have never read The Rites by Matt Baglio. I hope that doesn't detract from my experience of this poem. This is a diatribe against the so-called holy men, who are in real anything but holy. Many have voiced their opinions against such people, and I find your voice strong enough :) Nice job with this, I must say.

[Marie]

Can't identify with this, though I used to be a very good fake Catholic...

[eatmills]

Why it's true. I know it may be the few and how they stumble. I bet there are Catholics that had wished that the Gnostic version of the bible was kept. They wrote how Jesus was dating Mary. Being married to a religion sounds perverse in its own right but then again after learning how the bible was published and edited, my faith doth crumble.

Food for thought. Thank you.

[Melati]

I really love this poem. I totally agree with everything you've said. It is the fact that I've seen a lot of the "holy" men being hypocrites, in front of the altar they act so holy and pure covering their faces with a fine mardi gras mask. Judging human beings, though behind the scences they are so wild . Well done my Irish friend! Hey I just got back recently from Ireland and passed by your college and stayed at the Kilmainham:).