un-compromised –

no one listening.

irrelevant – the need to be heard.

sometimes we just cannot contain the emotion –

corral the words back to their silent place –

deep inside.

and so we sing…

 

sometimes –

the song –

becomes our anthem.

rebellion shouted from lungs trapped in a shell of perceived should-have-been –

could-have-been.

the escape becomes our escape.

the release –

our freedom –

sometimes…

 

and then –

sometimes –

we no longer hear the music –

and there –

facing the silence –

when we feel we’ve nothing left to say.

before we bow –

final curtain call –

we close our eyes –

 

and sometimes we just – pray…

caught apprehensively cowering beneath the weight of mistrust.

how can it be we believe in what we cannot see,

yet question intentions of those positioned to hold our hands?

 

oh to find exit from this life without the consequence of death.

to move from sharing shadows with our pain,

to standing UN-encumbered in the sun!

 

today i pause –

take refuge from my should.

 

today –

i pause –

weary traveler longing for the solace of home.

 

today i –

pause –

just long enough to catch my breath –

and as i close my eyes,

i dream of life beyond the fringe of discontent.

 

sorrow –

we entertain.

unaware we’ve closed the door to companion of contentment,

honored reservation with insecure –

and from this room,

no promenade of prohibition.

 

bound we remain,

by chains of (self-perceived) incorrigible inadequacy…

we speak to the disenchanted.

stand on our soapboxes of pious indignation –

lash out at the arena’s of unconcerned –

wear watercolor hearts on our sleeves.

 

in front of crowds gathered to deter allegiance –

we throw arrows of solidarity –

our arsenal of antagonism unending.

 

words of condemnation; we choose.

yet fail to dislodge thumbs of impudence from holes in dams of manufactured religion.

 

religion.

all inclusive blanket of suppose.

folded up neatly and placed high on shelves of available.

easily out of reach –

out of sight.

 

we speak –

but never seem to question the acceptance of those that hear.

irrelevant –

consensual commiseration.

in place of conviction –

we exhibit masks of implied.

utter memorized oracles of divine affiliation.

all the while –

completely unaware of the absence of acceptance to our invitations of believe…