Religion
by Beau Cameron
Chains would be less comfortable
But steel cannot burn.
So you have laced the ropes
With blades
To assure my pain.
A man draped in white
Reads my crimes to the mob
In an attempt to explain
Mindless brutality.
"Blasphemy, heresay."
And he says no more
For when I spoke out against your lord
I was branded a criminal.
I didn't insult you.
No words had I against your beliefs
Only that I didn't share them
But that was enough for you.
I used to believe.
As a child I didn't think
About the words I heard
Told to me by a preacher
Who was said to be loved.
I could memorize it
Like lyrics
But the voice was tuneless
And the melody- senseless.
So I changed the channel.
The thought of a man
Who cares so much
A loving lord
A savior for all
That was amazing
Even if no such man existed
In my faith.
I do not hate you
I have nothing against you.
But you detest me.
To you I am a stain.
Merely for loving
outside the boundaries of gender.
For dressing
in a way that makes me feel like myself.
For speaking
up when I don't agree.
For expressing
myself to the world.
For being who I am.
I do not understand.
Please hand me your great book
And guide to me a verse
That explains why
You burn in the name of a river God.
Why you destroy in the name
of a creator.
I adore the idea
But you have changed it
Shaped it
Ruined it
Beaten and broken it
Chopped off its limbs
Ripped out its tongue
Held it aloft above the masses
And when you claimed it was right
They believed you.
And now here we are.
They nod along with your words
An army of mindless belief
Who have marched into battle
On your command
Understanding why
as much as they do your sermon.
When you turn to me
Your face is a banner of victory
But what have you won?
I have not fought you.
If you view this torture as battle
You misunderstand.
I have no place in your war
No side to stand for
Because I am a warrior
And too disrespectful
For the army.
Your voice is a pen
Signing my death sentence
Writing your name
As you command them to begin.
The torch bearers are down turned hats
Tossing their flames to the wicker
And I know they are cowards
Because I never see their eyes.
Scarlet licks at the edges
Catching on hay, wood, cloth.
Skin is not flammable
Yet it can be charred easily.
My agony escapes the cage
I'd locked it in
through my throat
Reverberates in the air
Shaking the ground
Twisting the earth.
I am inferno
I am light
I am smoke
And sound
And death
The blaze burns white
And all
Is silent.
But steel cannot burn.
So you have laced the ropes
With blades
To assure my pain.
A man draped in white
Reads my crimes to the mob
In an attempt to explain
Mindless brutality.
"Blasphemy, heresay."
And he says no more
For when I spoke out against your lord
I was branded a criminal.
I didn't insult you.
No words had I against your beliefs
Only that I didn't share them
But that was enough for you.
I used to believe.
As a child I didn't think
About the words I heard
Told to me by a preacher
Who was said to be loved.
I could memorize it
Like lyrics
But the voice was tuneless
And the melody- senseless.
So I changed the channel.
The thought of a man
Who cares so much
A loving lord
A savior for all
That was amazing
Even if no such man existed
In my faith.
I do not hate you
I have nothing against you.
But you detest me.
To you I am a stain.
Merely for loving
outside the boundaries of gender.
For dressing
in a way that makes me feel like myself.
For speaking
up when I don't agree.
For expressing
myself to the world.
For being who I am.
I do not understand.
Please hand me your great book
And guide to me a verse
That explains why
You burn in the name of a river God.
Why you destroy in the name
of a creator.
I adore the idea
But you have changed it
Shaped it
Ruined it
Beaten and broken it
Chopped off its limbs
Ripped out its tongue
Held it aloft above the masses
And when you claimed it was right
They believed you.
And now here we are.
They nod along with your words
An army of mindless belief
Who have marched into battle
On your command
Understanding why
as much as they do your sermon.
When you turn to me
Your face is a banner of victory
But what have you won?
I have not fought you.
If you view this torture as battle
You misunderstand.
I have no place in your war
No side to stand for
Because I am a warrior
And too disrespectful
For the army.
Your voice is a pen
Signing my death sentence
Writing your name
As you command them to begin.
The torch bearers are down turned hats
Tossing their flames to the wicker
And I know they are cowards
Because I never see their eyes.
Scarlet licks at the edges
Catching on hay, wood, cloth.
Skin is not flammable
Yet it can be charred easily.
My agony escapes the cage
I'd locked it in
through my throat
Reverberates in the air
Shaking the ground
Twisting the earth.
I am inferno
I am light
I am smoke
And sound
And death
The blaze burns white
And all
Is silent.