The old man used to be a preacher, but
in good faith had to turn in his cassock
because he no longer believed in anything.
He mumbles now, admitting that he cannot
say he believes he’ll live again.
If asked he’ll say we teach our young to
be fair, play fair, as though the world were
fair. Maudlin now, he observes that
we can kiss away a boo boo or wipe away
a tear, but
the buffer does not outlast reality, , or is it
just the luck of the draw? Lotta bad luck,
then, for many. “Refugees, thy name is grief.”
But with a little smile he reckons that
we avoid madness in the arms of sleep.
NANMYKEL.COM 
Thank you for sharing this piece
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Thanks for commenting!
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Written out of adverse experiences? Faith questioned. A provocative piece. Had me looking inward.
Isn’t sleep heaven sent?
Cheers!
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I would love to believe so. I liked your poem, but my comment didn’t survive. I think they’re “de-syncking” me, whatever that means, possibly because I can’t make out how to renew Windows Office or whatever that is.
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May those dreams be peaceful and the madness turn to inspiration. For me sleep is when things start to make sense and sometimes upon awakening they still make sense.
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Thanks, Frank. I like “the madness turns to inspiration.”
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me, too. Frank.
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Thanks, Frank.
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I have found that I have to find my solace in this life… and that’s such a relief… not provokative at all for my beliefs.
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Do you wish you could believe? Thanks for the comment.
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I’m enthralled by the title here. The Reluctant Atheist. Is that an atheist who really and truly wants to believe….tries to believe….wishes to believe? Here you have a preacher who has turned it in. So one wonders….was there more comfort in the believing or now in the not?
An intriguing piece.
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Probably some time ago when he believed, but he felt he would be deceiving his parishioners if he kept pretending.
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That last line is something I believe in. Dreams help with the sorting and filling in missing pieces. I understand a person of conviction would not want to lead anyone astray.
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Precisely. Thanks, Jade.
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You are welcome.
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Beautiful, beautiful. Went straight to my heart, Nan. My experience also.
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I appreciate it…
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I think your words: “reluctant atheist” is the best summation I have ever heard.
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Thank you thank you…
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I’m 71.5…..and wiser now since I ditched toxic influences….so many and mostly family! I believe in nothing…nothing religious…but I believe we can make our lives “Heaven” or Hell.
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But it sure takes a lot of work!
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