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Jerrybaldy
09-15-2010, 05:48 PM
Voices are hushed behind black curtains,
Forgivesness sought by the barely sinned,
absolution required for now, please.
Worn out rosary in the pocket with the cigarettes.
Hallowed hall with day visitors scattered on pews,
out of the rain, taking comfort in the cold,
asking that they be relieved of debt and worry
or that Jimmy should have just two months more.
Pool of special water dabbled with the troubles
of hopeful calloused fingers.
Five star luxury in the cloths
that hoards of gold afford.
Daylight may only enter through
suffering faces in lead lined stained glass,
allowing candles of remembrance,
a gloom in which to shine.
Backstage in the vestry
the altar boy loses his catapult,
his football team, his cheeky smile
his innocent love of Ann in class three.
His gown removed by the shaking hands
of the collared man, above his own sin
who loves just the one,
but lusts the hushed with depravity.

dafydd manton
09-15-2010, 05:52 PM
Topical!! No punches pulled there, mate!!

NikolaiI
09-15-2010, 05:52 PM
good poem, great ending... only thing is, I think the second line should be 'sought' instead of 'seeked.'

Jerrybaldy
09-15-2010, 05:57 PM
Thanks Daf, feel I did pull a few but they probably needed pulling.
Thanks Nik, you are right, have changed it. cheers.

Delta40
09-15-2010, 06:07 PM
I like how the mystery of faith here is deconstructed into the everyday lives of people

hillwalker
09-15-2010, 06:14 PM
Very topical indeed - and just one aspect of the whole sorry debacle of his 'holiness's' (!) state visit here.

I have Catholic friends/acquaintances who are sickened by the entire whitewashing - as well as the hypocrisy behind the pomp and regalia.

The final piece of this provocative poem symbolises so much..... powerful stuff and written with a degree of unwilling restraint that the reader can sense.

H

Haunted
09-15-2010, 06:30 PM
the way you lead us into the core...stunning

Jerrybaldy
09-15-2010, 06:31 PM
thanks Delta, I specialise in deconstruction, cant construct a thing though ;)
thanks Hill, I am a catholic through birth myself and inbred fear of God for 11 years that took some escaping. I am glad you felt the restraint as I sure as hell deleted myself enough times at the end .

cheers
Jerry

Jerrybaldy
09-15-2010, 06:35 PM
thanks Haunted. The stage had to be set :)

Haunted
09-15-2010, 06:52 PM
midnight confession: I'm not a God fearing catholic but I'm drowning in guilt.

Jerrybaldy
09-15-2010, 07:13 PM
Forgive yourself. If you cant do that become a catholic and somebody else will forgive you ;)