AN ENTIRE LIFE AS A 'DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL'

my remains are gathered


my accomplishments received

by who will receive them


and I like everyone else

will face judgment


without mercy

and make amends that amount


to nothing

because nothing


is perfect enough

to appease the gangster


who will say

no no not good enough


who'll beat you bloody

to extract His price


and leave you on the roadside

saying you're forgiven


get up and walk

and so we get real


and so we discover God is not

love or mercy or goodness or forgiveness


we discover God is pitiless merciless

unrelenting unforgiving vengeance


and that all liability for trying to do right

is on us and even that will be swept aside


as not perfect enough

and this is the deal this is the horror


to live you must obey God

but how? how do we obey


when God Himself crushes down

all attempts at atonement?


my how quiet the murmurs of suffering

there is no answer to anything


and oh how silent the open

empty overarching sky


over which our remains are gathered...




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