Martin Braun Poet Ballad

The Atheist

Science defines my virtue.
Factual and fictional books are my domain.
Don’t speak to me of pixies, fairies, and unicorns,
Or of your monopoly on morality, love, faith, and shame.

I am what I am
And of what I do I claim my own.
I fight for my survival  
Of which need not be told, judged or shown. 

There is no all knowing
Or an immortal god of my fate he will judge.
For when my heart ceases to beat
It will return from whence it came, a kind of primordial sludge.

And when I die
I will not be present to lend a single care.
I spent my life living
Where cowards do not dare.

Do not ask me to have faith.
Do not ask me to prove love.
Do not ask me to define absolutes.
For I know absolutely, there is no god above.

I claim we are all one human race,
Merely here because of some random demise.
The purpose of my existence,
Is equal to other humans, including apes, birds, and flies.

Nothing of life can be proven,
Nor of life I can disprove.
I live by a faith in myself;
I am my own god, a perfect image of myself which cannot be improved.

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Andrew John October 5, 2023 at 6:13 AM It's good to see atheist honesty, Martin, with lowercase "g" on "god", lowercase "h" on "he" instead of those oft-used capital initials. Yes, you're your own god, old chum. I do wish people would question their beliefs, and realise that they simply believe that they believe, and examine their thoughts the way you have done here. Examination of one's thoughts is a good thing to practise.

Daniel Schack October 4, 2023 at 9:58 AM love this , darn right!!!!! please, enjoy my writes, feel free to feedback.daniel schack.

Hilda Greenhough October 4, 2023 at 9:29 AM A strong "maybe you are right". I have the unfortunate problem of feeling two ways at one time with no absolutes. This poem is worthy of deep thought.

Mv Venkataraman July 2, 2022 at 9:09 AM If I possess a heart like yours, I am sure even death will bring cheers, No need to shed any tears, I can face life without fears, But, God-faith soon appears, And my fear about death nears, I pray believing God hears, By lending his sacred ears, Temporarily my fear of death disappears, But, soon I hear its jeers!

Geoffrey Brewer January 17, 2019 at 9:11 PM I perceive from your other writing, that you wrote this, taking on the persona and viewpoints of an athieist, but not your own - so effectively that you convinced some that you yourself are the atheist. Very clever! Martin.

Evelyn Collins December 7, 2018 at 1:33 PM Congrats, strongly delivered in a way that flows. and personally, valid point. your perspective is portrayed well.

Charlie Smith December 7, 2018 at 11:44 AM Faith is but a strongly belief or theory and I think you've expressed yours very well , congratulations on your high placement...

L. J. Carber December 7, 2018 at 11:35 AM Well Martin, congrats on your 2nd place, and well deserved it is, for it is a powerful song to your 'religion'; yet unbelief is no more provable than belief: dogmatic atheism is but a form of fundamentalism. How logical is it to presuppose there is no greater intelligence than human in the Universe or to discount 1,000's of recorded accounts going back to Plato of NDEs and out-of-body experiences? To say there is no Being far beyond human comprehension is as naive as trying to define Divinity.

Kim Rodrigues December 7, 2018 at 7:58 AM Harsh words but in line with the shape of this contest. Congrats on your second place win!

Line Gauthier December 6, 2018 at 7:16 PM Congrats on your silver medal win, Martin.