behold the pagan symbols of the church
as I bathe in the irreverence of the believers
"pause and reflect on how you've
offended God," says he
but years would not be enough time

look around:
you can see how many are here
for the second time this year
the confusion is evident on their faces
as they realize they've forgotten
how to praise God

the hypocrisy of it all sickens me
and I can't help but wonder
what exactly it was
you wanted me to see
what you wanted me to feel

I can't even remember
the profession of Faith
the words are transitory
in my mind
I see stoners and assholes
serving the eucharist
and you among them
seem so out of place

I know these people
I know how they live
are you the only one among them
that believes?

it felt so strange
being there again
seeing the faces
that haunt my past
hearing the voices
that haunt my dreams
and the whole while
I was thinking
about how sickening
it all is
and I remembered why I left
all those years ago

and yet I came back
and I wonder now
if you know why I did
that it wasn't for the gift you gave
but because you asked me to
but you were too busy
for me to tell you

09/23/2001

Posted on 09/23/2001
Copyright © 2025 Gary Hoffmann