Friday, December 24, 2010

Interloper

Image borrowed from Bing


Interloper

It certainly was
the night before Christmas,
and after I duded-up, putting
on my black slacks, black sweater
vest, red dress shirt, and fancy
red and black tie I found
myself trundling after my wife,
children, and grandchildren
to the Presbyterian Church
near our home so that I could
pack into a steaming sanctuary
sitting shoulder to hip with neighbors
and strangers, so that I could be
scolded for not tithing enough,
for not being hypocritical enough,
for not being self-deluded enough,
for not sacrificing enough,
for not buying the bunk,
for refusing to join the club, the order,
the congregation, the Jesus gang;
for being non-repentant,
for still smiling at the foot of the great
timbered cross behind the pulpit,
for still being spiritual without
walking in their sandals, without
being an infidel or a non-believer,
sitting unfettered, innocent,
and without fear.

Glenn Buttkus

December 2010

Listed as #101 over on Magpie Tales 45

Would you like the Author to read this poem to you?

3 comments:

Dick Mansfield said...

Thanks Glen,
I enjoyed this one as always! I'm with you what the holy crowd attempts to enforce. Thanks for your fearlessness -- certainly speaks to me!
Have a great one! Talk to you soon.
Love,
Dick

Paul Bauck said...

Amen!

P

Anonymous said...

the night before Christmas...
awesome capture of your sentiments...

fantastic writing..