I learned early
from my father
that alcohol makes a poor
crutch
from the Catholic Church
that
St Luke or any other saint
would not hold me up
either
every day the world
teaches me that God does
not exist
outside of another
person’s imagination
or some religious doctrine
I’ve discerned as much
from
superstition
old wives’ tales and
waking dreams
as I have from attending
mass
I’ve seen that looking for
signs
I won’t recognize one
it’s better to learn from
coincidence
than having faith
in some apparition
the ghost of someone
else's belief
so where does that all
leave me
today
when saying a prayer
can’t possibly relieve the
pain I feel
for this society we live
in
where our way of life
mocks us as a way of death
where more guns means less
safety
more carnage
less courage
to do what needs to be
done
when our tears will not
wash away
the blood we shed in fear
or anger
our prayers will not bring
back the dead
where does that leave us
all
Barry DeCarli
July 8, 2016
On Hammond Pond
©Barry DeCarli
