Church | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. Church

Church

August 14, 2011
By Sarahhhhhhh BRONZE, Malden, Massachusetts
More by this author
Sarahhhhhhh BRONZE, Malden, Massachusetts
4 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The silence depressed me. It wasn&#039;t the silence of silence. It was my own silence.&quot; <br /> - Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

View profile

with lifted eyes she clutches that
book of lies
the pastor screeches "Hallelujah!,"
jazz-hands and all.

never a woman upstaged
not even by bright lights and dance numbers
(the theatrics of worship)
she squeezes out one tear,
then another, until
she is sobbing for the big man
on a cloud-throne in the
sky.

the rhetoric of faith erupts from the pulpit
and wraps her in
a warm blanket of delusion.
she knows these pews will always be
her stage.

© Ryan D., Tracy, CA

The author's comments:
Sometimes the theatrics of the church experience overshadow the religious experience.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
La Push
By Renesmeem BRONZE
SeaTac, Washington
Renesmeem BRONZE, SeaTac, Washington
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
Motley Crue: I really hear you
By Arbys GOLD
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Arbys GOLD, Dobbs Ferry, New York
15 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.&quot;Edgar Allan Poe<br /> &quot;A dream doesn&#039;t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~Colin Powell&quot; ~ Colin Powell<br /> &quot;Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools, Wisdom <br /> &quot;A poem is never finished, only abandoned.&quot;-Paul Valery

View profile
Poetry
Lost now found
By BarrelRacer GOLD
Huber Heights, Ohio
BarrelRacer GOLD, Huber Heights, Ohio
10 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bring The Challenge or Eat My Dust.

View profile
Poetry
what is it?
By stardom21 BRONZE
Suisun City, California
stardom21 BRONZE, Suisun City, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
Poetry
where did you go
By brittany curths SILVER
Hubbard, Oregon
brittany curths SILVER, Hubbard, Oregon
6 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
Secret Crush
By C.J.H. BRONZE
Benciao City, Taipei County, Other
C.J.H. BRONZE, Benciao City, Taipei County, Other
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Sometimes the world tries ot knock it out of you. But I believe in music the way that some people believe in fairy tales.&quot; August Rush(2007)

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 6 comments.

thetruthawaits94 SILVER said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 6:46 pm
thetruthawaits94 SILVER, Duncan, Oklahoma
9 articles 0 photos 351 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.

View profile
Being close to God shouldn't be an act. It doesn't need big, crazy emotions in front of people to be real. I really like the meaning behind this poem, once again. Great use of language, too! the vocabulary really pulled this poem together. Nothing else, but maybe capitalize the first letters on each line! :)
Sarahhhhhhh BRONZE said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 11:53 am
Sarahhhhhhh BRONZE, Malden, Massachusetts
4 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The silence depressed me. It wasn&#039;t the silence of silence. It was my own silence.&quot; <br /> - Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

View profile
Thanks so much to everyone! :)
ohheyyyelli SILVER said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 11:18 am
ohheyyyelli SILVER, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
5 articles 3 photos 178 comments
View profile
I LOVE that (like the others pointed out) this has such a unique meaning. You have a great vocab. I love poems like this, so much better than ones that lay it all out for you. You are seriously talented.
yellowflower SILVER said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 10:51 am
yellowflower SILVER, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 47 comments
View profile
Just like everybody else i really love the message!! it is so unique and i wish i could be that creative! I also lov the the word choice, for example "a warm blanket of delusion" really puts a feeling and picture in my head. Great Job!
Garnet77 PLATINUM said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 2:39 am
Garnet77 PLATINUM, Sinagpore, Other
31 articles 6 photos 577 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everything&#039;s a triangle.&quot; ~ My mother<br /> <br /> &quot;Write what you love, write what you care about, because sometimes, it&#039;s the easiest way to be heard.&quot;

View profile
The flow of this was surprisingly good. I really like the unique message (as julian pointed out), and your word choice set a perfect tone for what you're saying in this piece. Well done :)
julian GOLD said...
on Aug. 29 2011 at 12:48 am
julian GOLD, Eugene, Oregon
17 articles 17 photos 223 comments

Favorite Quote:
The goal is not about living forever, the goal is about creating something that can.

View profile
Lovely poem. I really enjoy it when poetry have unique messages in them. This piece certainly did! It does seem that sometimes the drama and the theatrics of church can take away from the actual experiences that church is meant to bring. I really enjoy your subtle rhythms that you entwine throughout your poetry. It is very pleasing to read. Once again, splendid work