—Poems by Michael Marrotti, Pittsburgh, PA
—Anonymous Photos to Celebrate our
Seed of the Week, Candlelight
BAPTIST CHURCH
Oppressive traditions
are meant to be broken
like the beaks
of nosey conservatives
taking in all the air
around them
sticking their noses
where they don't belong
Always the first
to prohibit the path
DO NOT ENTER
judged by appearance
unorthodox attire
only those
who are worthy
may enter
this sanctuary
of stubborn personality
The path
of the righteous man
is sexist and biased
the only option left
is to walk away
or face the charge
of trespass
Here I thought
we're all equal
in the name of the Lord
a feeling takes over me
I'm not the one
in need of repentance
I know when I'm not wanted
TRANSCENDENCE
There was a time
when the sun shined
the birds flew
amongst the bees
Stars were close
enough to reach
and the one
piece of ass
I had was good
enough
It was the day
before my
prescription
ceased to be
the day I was
high enough
to touch God
Prayers would
have never
ascended me
as high as this
The pious
are foolish
for believing
otherwise
PSEUDO-CHRISTIAN
These people
this place
my appearance
is the cause
of their actions
Jesus doesn't work
they pick and choose
what's best for them
going through life
in a righteous state
of contempt
God forbid
they turn the other cheek
when other people's
so-called shortcomings
help them forget
about their own
transgressions
Instead
of being grateful
for the daily bread
they focus
on how others
consume it
Guilty
by no affiliation
my heart
it beats like yours
no vacancy
for Jesus
doesn't mean
I'm not
for the cause
altruistic
I have
my own reasons
Blood will flow
like wine
from the mouth
of those
who contradict
the doctrine
Keep those eyes
on the pages
let Jesus
do all the thinking
only open
that big mouth
for the daily bread
Jesus saves
and this could save
us a headache
JESUS IS NOT NEEDED
Jesus isn't needed
in my heart
to become
a better person
opening that door
would only close
another
like the door
to my dealer
This wallet
is opened
blood is flowing
the heart
is beating
like a drum
no need
to pray
when those prayers
go unanswered
my dealer
never ignores me
always picks
up the phone
No delusions
only truth
my faith
in this feeling
though costly
is liberating
to have faith
in you
is to renounce
control
This
megalomaniac
is repulsed
by the thought
of ever walking
down that
straight and narrow
suppressive road
THE VOID
Living a life
void of belief
is like using
an anonymous
bar of soap
to scrub away
the unbeknownst
filth of the earth
in a lukewarm shower
Dirty towels
dry away
unguided souls
No transcendence
or declension
when the elevator
is out of service
Not knowing
is not caring
and living a life
free of indoctrination
is a life
of free thinking
ONE OF LIFE’S LESSONS
It's hard to forgive
when there are no
qualifications
church is out
I lack the
Christian value
system
It's hard to speak
with candor
In a world
of delusions
when my true
thoughts have been
denounced
popularity through
propaganda
It's hard to be free
in a paradoxical
greedy country
that condemns us
to the servitude
of the monetary
system
It's hard to walk
the streets
being myself
when it's
unorthodox and
conveys public
protest amongst
the biased
and faithless
It's hard to suppress
this enmity and rage
I contribute to the
persecution from
the opposition
when I know
what they deserve
is a full serving
of brutality
But I've come to
learn one of life's
most valuable
lessons
True power isn't a gun
a managerial decision
a suicidal bomber
or a judge and the jury
True power is self-control
to renounce that is to
capitulate your freedom
LIGHT OF LIFE RESCUE MISSION
I was
volunteering
each week
religiously
even though
I'm spiritually
bankrupt
It was a
phenomenal
feeling
living out
my ideology
we're all here
to help other
people
Then one day
I stopped
there was a glitch
I began to question
this benevolent
endeavor
Was it making
a difference
does any of it
even matter
One
pseudo-Christian
is all it takes
to ruin the philosophy
some contradictions
are easier to forgive
than others
A month later
I came to the
realization
that doing nothing
will only prolong
the suffering
and apathy
I didn't wanna be
another callous
human being
so I returned to
walk through
those doors
Actions speak
louder than words
empathy is
oftentimes
sacrificial
I'm back to
where I started
doing my best
to make a difference
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
Religion is like a pair of shoes… Find one that fits for you, but don’t make me wear your shoes.
—George Carlin
_____________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Michael Marrotti for today’s poems as, like the rest of us, he takes time to face the void now and then.
Celebrate poetry by heading up to Placerville to hear
Shawn Pittard read
at the Good Earth Movement
Cooperative, 250 Main St., 6:30pm. Scroll down to the
blue column (under the green column at the right)
for info about this and other upcoming poetry events
in our area—and note that more may be added
Cooperative, 250 Main St., 6:30pm. Scroll down to the
blue column (under the green column at the right)
for info about this and other upcoming poetry events
in our area—and note that more may be added
at the last minute.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by clicking on them once,
then click on the X in the top right corner to come back
to Medusa.
