Untitled 20

Delusions of grandeur
an exaggerated sense of importance
was all that is needed to go on
and bear any sort of encumbrance

The hungry looks
of an audience entertained
the lavish praise
of fanatics unrestrained
makes the load go lighter
the passage of time unfelt
trapped in the small space in the aether
suddenly expanding into forever

As they sing a hymn
as they recite a prayer
as they bring their sacrifices
and burn them with adoration
wounds begin to heal
sins are forgotten
worlds are created
raising the dead
feeding the hungry
punishing the wicked

Underneath the religious ecstasy
is an existence defined by agony
the faces mask a horrid expression
a poor disguise in place
for an unbearable condition

A threat of punishment
a reward for obedience
passed down from parent to children
a never ending cycle
of love and hate
of genuine concern
of resignation and success
of living through duress
of ignorance and apathy
of a battle for survival
and resources, and supremacy

A short whisper of longing
a cry for help
thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
a plentiful life, a new born
was all that is needed to realize
how we truly walk in the dark
trying our best not to stumble and fall
holding each other's hands
we felt strong together
bearing the same name
marching under the same banner

A burst of lightning
followed by thunder
suddenly exposed the shadows
and the trail to the outside world
but it wasn't enough
for us to see
for even light can deprive us
of what it feels to be free
that we would rather hide from the sky
than flap our wings and fly
we would rather agree
than risk a confrontation
and we would rather nod
than ask the important question

A ghost from the past
a dreadful prophecy
was all that is needed to remind
our feeble minds of the destiny
that we accepted as ours
that we accepted as divine
that we took as our truth

Guilt and blame
from sin and shame
a naked existence
after succumbing to the flame
blood in our hands
an empty stomach
lust in our minds
burden on our backs
was all it takes
for our unconditional surrender

Though we may never truly understand
the triviality of the matter
we may not even remember
the things we sought after
so in the silence of our hearts
we offer a simple prayer
to someone out there
hoping for an answer

And any seemingly related event
is all that is needed
to reassure our convictions
to confirm our assumptions
A conniving thought
is all that we expected to find
as we ignore how good we are
in deceiving ourselves with our minds