deepundergroundpoetry.com

get some knee pads already

I caught myself
mid eye roll
hands tossed in the air
thinking "again...here we go"
but I paused for a beat
and gave it full my consideration
despite my usual frustration
I really needed to understand
why you do...
...what you do
and I think I'm finally on to you

I know why your knees take a beating
head bent in pious penance
wringing fingers in invocation
there in your habitual pew
on display in prominent view
or elbows braced on the edge of your bed
and this...
mere hours after casting judgement
firing shots in wild abandon
recklessly strafing the latest in your hat{r}ed
innocent struggling people
minding their own business
doing you no harm
just trying their best to manage their own demons
the likes of which you have no real comprehension
but you're sure as hell convinced you could do better

I've figured you out though
I know why you so often linger there
po{i}sed in such fervent fashion
hypocrisy riding shotgun with your guilt
after running off at the frothing mouth
letting your true feelings out
then cringing at your own ugly demeanor
you're worried suddenly
about how others might see you
so you drop & assume the position
hoping the bruises left when you kneel
distract from your callous{ed} tongue
{and heart}
while you're desperately attempting to atone
for your obvious lack of compassion

out of pure curiosity
which words did you mean more?
what you spout now?
or what you said before?

listen...
I can save you some (valuable?) time
don't put your soul in distress
don't even bother praying for mine
until there's honest remorse prompting what you express
and a change in behavior is your next course of action
save your breath

I'm not an item on your to do list
checked off to make you feel better
words spoken do matter
think first
before you invest them
and for the record
I commune with my maker
in my own time & place
focus on your own salvation
and leave me to mine
please & thank you

(there's always that one pious leaf on the family tree...)