Poem for my Godson
Photo: copyright James Rainsford
Because I had been
asked
I came to pledge my
care for you,
And stand in plain and
profane sight
Of those who’d brought
their frail beliefs
Into this sunlit
shrine.
Where divine
protection, dearly bought,
Provided poor relief to
ease the fierce grief
Which holiness employs
To bless the testing
time
The ripening years shall
bring.
A superstition almost
passed
Had cast perdition from their minds.
Providing moments to
forswear
Their love affair with
Mammon’s need
To feed all thoughts of
sanctity into the
Greedy years, where
new agnostic fears
Of failure taught that
faith was nought
But baseless hope.
Knowing that reality
beyond these
Hallowed walls, appalls
the call
Of mysteries, waking
them
From shallow sleep to
keep their dread
Of nothingness at bay.
Still, for today they
summoned care,
To swear for you a
Christian view,
Within which few can
truly keep
The weeping, needed to
sustain
The pain which guilt
exacts
From this first pact with
A cruel and
vengeful God.
© James Rainsford 2013
Note to readers: Posted as my contribution to Open link Night at dVerse Poets. Your views are most welcome and I'll respond to all who visit here and leave a comment.
My kind regards to all at dVerse Poets, James.
made me think of the time before luther's reformation..salvation and forgiveness for sin can't surely be bought..baseless hope..ugh.. they never understood who he is and what he is like...sad
ReplyDeleteAlmost a god fearing poem. Everything can be forgiven if the seeker seeks redemption for what has been done. I'm not religious but I feel one of the gratest human attributes is forgiveness. Or maybe I'm just soft? Hehhee xx
ReplyDeleteugh...there are many who have such a skewed view and perpetuate it as well in how they preach...one mans christianity is not another surely....and guilt, yeah i grew up in that church....
ReplyDeleteThought provoking poem, a good write James.
ReplyDeleteYahweh doesn't mind your false swearing.
ReplyDeleteAnd apparently family doesn't either.
And your grandson will be happy to know you are on his side
especially if he is someday unlucky enough to discover
no gods are
I can relate to this.
ReplyDeleteEven as a child I found churches full of the most evil people..
'... to keep their dread
Of nothingness at bay.'
I have (politely) turned down requests to be a Godparent - how could I be so without belief behind it?
Wise words there writ James.
Anna :o]
I don't know whose preaching you've been listening to, but the God I believe in is not cruel and vengeful - far from it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't agree with the message, the writing in this piece is strong asusual, James.
So much of church history is misunderstood (for better and worse). This poem does have quite the impact... Makes me wonder why someone who thinks God is vengeful and cruel, that faith is superstition would be a godparent... unless, there is a hint of hope that this isn't the case? And perhaps I read into it incorrectly (I do that often with poetry) Your words alway produce a response!
ReplyDeleteI have made myself a stranger to organized religion. There is no one-size-fits-all system of faith. Instead, I hold my beliefs dear as personal treasures and keep myself out of the position of being challenged for them.
ReplyDeleteI am a godparent to my niece, not because of a religious obligation but because I love her and always want the best care for her.
Powerful work.