Let's make peace

It’s so simple what I ask for ….

Admit you grumble and complain

About that destructive lamb

that bleats incessantly

Standing in the corner

plugging his ears

Promise me you won’t 

do that around me

Although you made clear 

many times

That won’t be a problem

Admit you knew I wanted 

to play that role

And you overstepped your role 

in this team effort

You took the project over 

and pushed me away

Admit that you knew 

it was my role 

to reformat the prayers

Even though

You still have not 

prevented me at all

from doing so

And that really hurts my feelings 

because I really wanted to do that

Apologize and let me know 

you trust my leadership

that I don’t have 

which I imagine I do

Let me know you will follow 

my leadership

Can you do this 

unreasonable, irrational 

demand of mine?

I can’t be part of your rivalry 

with that strangled cat in the corner

Nor can I work with someone 

who does not respect my leadership

which is entirely illusory 

Can you understand that?

I’m the reasonable one; 

I’m the pious one, the lowest of all, 

with visions of perfect prayer

Your actions which I won't specify

in this chimera of mine 

Toward that pathetic creature and me 

are so hurtful to me

I cry benedictine tears 

of penthos

and you don’t care

Even though you’ve been very clear 

about caring justly 

and thinking clearly

To not think less of one's self

but to think rightly of one's self 

as true humility

This is not a healthy relationship 

We can make peace

It’s easy: let’s make peace

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, 

now and always, and forever and ever. Amen. 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, 

now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Thanatography

 

I wear this mask

For my mom

Whose fear of germs explains everyone else’s today.

I stay at home 

In solidarity with this terminal generation

That is truly sick and needs the support

I wash my hands

For my neighbors

Who rub their eyes and touch everything in isle nine as I do

I stay six feet away

For small businesses

That welcome slitting each other's wrists

My family won’t be getting the shot any time soon

Others deserve it far more than we do

It would sicken us, and we would be forever changed, if it were any other way

Most importantly, we order take out

For family and friends to be safe from pathogens

And to slow the spread of this virus

Just kidding

We never order take out

We regularly go to the restaurants that don’t harass us for not wearing masks

Transactors

People these days

    Will believe anything

        If enough propaganda 

    Is fed across media 

To foster public credibility        

    This is especially true

        Among those who consider

            Themselves enlightened

                 Or credentialed  

                    In any remotely  

                Related industry

            That utilizes

        All of their own

    Philosophical  

Pre-commitments

    All that actually matters

        Today is convincing public  

    Perception of investment  

Opportunity 

    It doesn’t matter what

Is actually possible

    Science knows no boundaries

Outside of what its peers review

    So it’s most important

        For tech and science 

            Industries to market 

            And sell compelling philosophy

        As a product 

    Rather than actual

Tangible working products

    Religion sells more

    Ideas than it produces

Tangibles

    The world has been sold

        A new philosophy

            A new religion for less

                Than a hundred years

                    And yet it has grown 

                        An immensely lucrative behemoth

                            Of ‘private’ industries

                            Although largely publicly funded

                        That appeared successful

                    And have been identified

                As such over decades

            Due to marketing

        Strategies and investment

    Opportunities for multi 

Billion-dollar enterprises

    Although religion has been mocked

        And ridiculed over these

    Same decades of recent past

Religion has certainly not disappeared.     

    It has simply evolved according to its own self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Crucified

O God, my God, why have I forsaken you? 

Far away from blissfulness are my entertainments! 

O Most High, I cry for days and you will not listen! 

I roar beyond moonlight, waxing and waning

Yet, still, my addictions tarry

Do you dwell in foolish ones—in their praise?

Our father hoped in you, and was not blissful

Toward you he cried and was heard

He was heard, and was still put to shame

And I—I, too, am a dumb animal

A beast of the field and vagabond

I aspire to carry the torch of our heritage

Yet all those who view my profile deride me

They mute my feed

They snope each fact and report missing context

“This guy needs help.”

“He denies Science.”

“Let his god save him, because he can’t be reasoned with.”

Because you are the one who graced me with instruction

You are the one who infused me with theories of conspiration

Upon you my work ethic was baptized

Out of your bride my spirit of laissez fair was birthed

Please do not draw near to me, because I have no profit to offer

They troll my accounts like flies—hundreds of them

Like GM Mosquitoes, they prevent offspring from surviving

I was shut up like a mason jar

Poured out like the cold residuum of a french press

My soul is pierced

My cells, poisoned

All hope, lost

I laid this corpse of yours down into dust

To watch more television

To stream more social media

To remain relevant and informed

Until our final judgment