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So Close You Can Taste

I’ve seen wretched souls 
fall poorer by stealth 
I’ve seen frail old people 
endure pain as they knelt 

Climbing mountains barefoot 
pilgrimages never stop
A penance for being born 
light your candle at the top 

I’ve seen false prophets 
adorn halls with great wealth 
I’ve seen saints being evoked 
promising to cure ill health 

Down beside the grotto
past where wheelchairs roll
Believers lie prostrate 
whilst souvenirs are sold 

They beg for miracles
hoping prayers will be felt 
Some have their spirits raised 
gods name becomes misspelt 

Selective interpretations 
scriptures bent to suit man
Dogmatic, stern beliefs
hushed silence, vetoes, bans

under forced indoctrination 
this mind started to melt
Brainwashed in a classroom 
with the strap of a belt 

Now feel worthy of nothing 
and deserving of it all 
I still must climb mountains 
but try avoid the brick walls


By David Kavanagh

Copyright © David Kavanagh | Year Posted 2022

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Sotto Poet Date: 5/5/2022 4:19:00 AM This is excellent poetry that is both well-written and thought-provoking! David. You wrote this poem from the depths of your soul; it is very amazing and strikes a deep chord with me. The Holy Book was altered to accommodate man's fervent and harsh religious ideas. Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 5/5/2022 4:52:00 AM It certainly was corrupted by certain denominations Lasaad, I could never understand why in school they used to beat us, whilst saying god loves us all, but now I do know why, and put some of the answers into my poem above, cheers David

Deb M Date: 5/3/2022 7:32:00 AM Wow David what an amazing poem….powerfully written and very thought provoking! A heart poem. Debx Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 5/3/2022 8:40:00 AM Heya Deb, I was looking at the more dubious side of religion being sold by man, for power and profit, by partly reflecting on my schooldays and early life experience, thank you so much for kind comments, cheers David

Anne E Sangster - K Date: 5/1/2022 7:47:00 AM This is wonderful David and rings true for me. Scriptures bent to suit man with dogmatic, stern beliefs. I couldn't agree more! Cheers Anne :-) Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 5/1/2022 9:01:00 AM Heya Anne, Thank you so much for your visit today! really is appalling the way religion is packaged, sold, and forced sometimes throughout the world, I seen Putin on TV at a Russian orthodox service last week, up on the altar blessing himself,? but this one is more about my own personal experience and observations of schismatic corruption, cheers David

Gary Radice Date: 5/1/2022 3:53:00 AM You've spoken from the heart here David and I feel it through your words. I'm just surprised I'm the first to comment. I really enjoyed your food for thought this sunday morning. Cheers - Gary Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 5/1/2022 6:04:00 AM Thank you Gary from the heart indeed, but I’m not surprised by the lack of comments, some people are set in their ways, and accept the status quo, for fear of falling out of favour with god, or perhaps their peers, but I must point out and question everything I’ve seen and was taught, thanks for looking in, cheers David