Ghairo Daniels Poet Alliteration

WHEN RELIGION BECOMES YOUR OPIUM

WHEN RELIGION BECOMES 
YOUR OPIUM 

When religion becomes your 
opium you slip into icy pre-dawn 
to mosque then lie in fever flu 
at dusk as bilal calls again
for you to stumble towards 
beckoning forefinger guilt
chalices cringing crying

You chant morning to night
wrapped in dirty linen blights 
mantras channelled centuries 
ago resin rosary threadbare
kitabs torn, curtains undrawn
biscuits crumbled alongside 
salted slippers prayer coats 
ghostly watch blustery blinkers

Your heart remains judgement 
tight with rusty mental railway 
lines unbuckled only to fight
canaries flown from stilted 
cages wire worn walls
cracking ceilings catalysing 

You speak in unremitting 
riddles try not to scream 
at dismal doors knitted beard 
knotted knives of seamen 
gambles enticing lovers of 
yesteryear who remain
embedded in elbow joints 
as you catch rain in 
buckets of shame

You refuse to let in visions 
of New Earth as this opium 
mix targets rude roaring fire
planets in unrelenting fear 
colour remains brown black
tinges of diseased blood 
slowly trickle teary 
tattered trousers torn

This drug is an only taste
angels fly past in haste
fezzes stuck on mothy mat  
knows no soapy skyline sighs 
underpinned by judgement 
made in desert ritual fears
God knows no such forlorn
framed jibbas or jibe jihads 

Opium can open too
tunnels into tortoiseshell 
havens of heather or healing 
hearths when heart is given
a hexagon hello helix
headwaters can heady rush
or opium can merely remain
the sniffing powder in 
your box


©GhairoDanielsPoetry&
Song2016

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Valsa George March 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM When religion becomes an opium, it numbs our reasoning power. We end up in a state of religious frenzy. Many extremists and terrorists are born when religion stoops into a blind addiction. It is a dangerous situation. All religions are meant to refine man. But here religion ends up in creating beasts. So powerfully written dear friend. Ghairo Daniels March 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM ThkU Valsa ! I do understand that we all can connect directly to the Godhead. And you are right. Religion is a way to refine us, just like poetry, music, art and all forms of culture. THANKYOU for your read. I watched a couple of videos on your city Kochi. It is quite beautiful as well as religious. I c you have many ancient churches in the city. Xx