A Christian-based poem

ArmsinaV

Broken Pieces

My eyes eventually turn
past the statues, the candles, and the stage.
Looking behind instead of ahead,
at the herd and their lives with broken pieces.

These shepherds tend only to themselves
and ignore the calls of the flock.
Screaming with sweaty faces
when they only need to whisper.

These shepherds, too distracted by mirrors
to pick up a rag or a shovel.
Too busy with weekly performances
to notice eyes cast downward and bleeding hearts.

These shepherds, hawking holy slot machines and bumper stickers,
little red books and Scriptural bargains.
Shouting angry slogans with microphones,
dancing on bright neon lights.

You false shepherds; put down your jewels
and scrounge for change.
Throw down that script,
take off that robe.
And show us your true burden.

Let’s burn down these walls,
and sift through the ashes.
Let’s tear down these walls,
and build from the inside out.
Let’s destroy these walls,
and make this place ours again.

He is not whatever you want.
He is not wherever you point.
He does not echo your every word.

He is alive –

and He lives among the broken pieces.

FinsburyParkCarrots

This is one of the more striking poems I've read on here for a while, though I think the explicit rhetoric at the end spoils the polemical force already inherent in the imagery throughout much of the piece.

Being Enlightened

Excellent piece! I really enjoyed this stanza, ArmsinaV:

"These shepherds tend only to themselves
and ignore the calls of the flock.
Screaming with sweaty faces
when they only need to whisper."

ArmsinaV

Thanks for the kind words.

I kind of understand Finsbury's point, but am not sure how I would change it around.

On well. Again, thanks.