Judge and Jury

Oh how easily we blame others!

Tear the flesh from me

as you wrack me,

punish me,

and drive your holy,

broken Catholic stake

through my shattered heart.

Condemn me

with an oath,

cast me to Hades

as you take your place

at the right hand of God.

And in such pity

I will linger

in the cesspit

of guilt

you so honour me with.

 

04/02/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[PatrickPink]

My favourite thing about this piece is the gradual transition in the first few lines from repetition, to half rhyme, to free form. You show a great amount of control in your writing! The image of a 'cesspit of guilt' is also fantastic!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks PP. Not sure control, I simply 'spill the beans' lol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh my! raised catholic...had that in my family....more guilt trips than one could ever imagine...
one after another...and it was the weapon most used by the nuns in grade school...

ugh...now how christian is that, really?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Like you Jacob brought up Catholic but love reading Dan Brown (You either love him or hate him) as he helps to maintain perspective so far as religion is concerned. I was an alter boy and sang in the choir and I attended a school run by 'brothers'. Thank you Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

me too, on the altar boy thing...luckily our priests were above board...we were safe with them...our pastor was crabby at 6:30 mass, but that was it.
and we had priests at Joliet Catholic after the grade school nuns....they were funny...told us we were crazy for believing what the nuns told us. :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

That made me smile Jacob. Might now be considered sexist!

[kitty]

'Judge and Jury indeed'! Too quick are we to throw the first stone or point the finger and be 'holier than thou'. In looking over any scenario its best i feel to think carefully befort we judge. A very down to earth piece. thank you for bringing these words to page.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you for reading them Kitty.

[kitty]

My pleasure!