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.
