Mass

The girl in front of me as tiny beads in her hair,
And giant silver earrings that swing through the air
Every time she bows her head in silent prayer.
Oblivious to everything in her sacred space.
A mother in a creamy check shirt,
Cradles a child to her chest.
As she whispers secret mantras to herself.
Of mary and the saints and good lord above.
The baby goos then falls contently asleep.
I'm glad it can't see what going on inside my head.
My mind is screaming your a conman a complete fucking fraud,
With the stench of hypocrisy seeping from every pore.
You have no business being here,
your soul is as empty as driest desert plain.
The priest starts to conduct his orchestra
Of hail mary's and our fathers and glory bes.
We sit we stand we kneel like obedient children,
And the congregation begin to recite something i vaguely remember
I try to lip sync but feel such a fool.
The sermon is on the consequences of sin.
But i'm to busy counting stained glass windows to take it all in.
There is a murmur over my left shoulder,
I take a glance to see a rickety old man with a lived in face.
I hear him say "please Jesus don't take my sweet Katie away"
As he fades back into inaudible mumbling.
I had enough of been a voyeur to other peoples pain.
And slide of my slippery seat and sneak out a side door.
I feel sad but relived zip up my jacket and light a cigarette.
I'll try again same time next year.