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The Condemned Word

May 16, 2013
By Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
More by this author
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

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Religion.

Yes, see the fear in your eyes,
the disgust and the immediate
recoil
as you hear the accursed,
blessed word.

Religion.

Oh how you instantly know just
how weak I am
because of this word I live by daily,
and how I love it.
Oh how you hate it.

Religion.

Something whispered behind
closed doors,
an unacceptable, desecrated
reality,
it’s my reality.

Religion.

The suppression of nature, of
impulse,
a fire putting out of the souls of the
carefree, and a burdensome
punch in the face.

Religion.

Why must you blame it for what
I have done,
or any other unholy, blasphemous
hypocrite?
What did it ever do, but try and find
the answers you seek?

Religion.

It weeps for the broken, and the desperate,
and yet the desperate break it
and abuse it.
Well I weep for those who would seek
to abolish
their only hope for love.

Religion.

You say it’s some sort of unwholesome,
two-faced scheme.
Where is your evidence? Who is your jury?
Surely not the devil who
whispers in your ear?
No, surely we have not been so blind.

© Rebecca Y., Los Angeles, CA

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 14 comments.

freeperson DIAMOND said...
on Jun. 12 2013 at 7:25 pm
freeperson DIAMOND, Burlington, Vermont
59 articles 0 photos 229 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Have you seen the way he looks at you, the way his expression softens and his eyes are like stars...?&quot; - Ara Weston

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The condemned word is my life (the literal thing, not the poem itself)   
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on Jun. 4 2013 at 6:00 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

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Thank you, that means so much!
Sarah_Rose17 SILVER said...
on Jun. 4 2013 at 11:49 am
Sarah_Rose17 SILVER, Windsor, Colorado
8 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Remember to trust others, it will one day be your saving grace.&quot;

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Wow- not only do I sit in awe but I can understand and relate to this piece.  Absolutely incredible.  I want my work to impact others like your work impacted me.  I am a Christian and I think that the sincerity and purity of this is sobering and beautiful. I love it.
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on Jun. 3 2013 at 5:49 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
I've been really busy with a job lately. And yeah, it's kinda much. They're too smart for their own good. Thanks for the feedback! :P
KatsK DIAMOND said...
on Jun. 3 2013 at 1:59 pm
KatsK DIAMOND, Saint Paul, Minnesota
57 articles 0 photos 301 comments

Favorite Quote:
Being inexhaustible, life and nature are a constant stimulus for a creative mind.<br /> ~Hans Hofmann<br /> You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.<br /> ~Ray Bradbury

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Jade, this was lovely. I often feel this way, because everyone around me is either a lukewarm Christian, as in general good person, but I have no idea whether they actually believe (like most of my friends, who say they're Christians just because they were brought up in it) and the extremists who give religion a bad rep.   Side note: You haven't been around for many heated debates lately in P&T. :) Of course, I haven't really participated either. ..Stuntdude vs. Doctorbug/half.note is a bit too much for me.
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND said...
on May. 28 2013 at 1:15 pm
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

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You're welcome. I can't not. It always amazes me so much :D P.S. You totally deserve much more than this :))
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on May. 27 2013 at 7:36 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
Wow. Whether or not I deserve that glowing praise, it is much appreciated! Your so sweet! Thanks for always taking the time to read my stuff!
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on May. 27 2013 at 7:35 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
Thanks so much XD
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND said...
on May. 25 2013 at 6:36 am
SaphiraBrightscales DIAMOND, Islamabad, Other
75 articles 16 photos 1136 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. <br /> - Maya Angelou <br /> When i was little/I used to point a chubby finger toward the dark sky/And ask my father/why some stars moved and others didn&rsquo;t/He would laugh and explain that some were airplanes/I still wish on them today ~ Laugh-It-Out<br /> The feathers of a crow are black/The ink of my pen is blacker/The pain of my heart is blackest~ Mckay<br /> If love produced a blossom/I&rsquo;d take it in my palm/What a blessing, the bright color!/How soothing, such a balm!/I&rsquo;d keep a petal for my own/The rest, drop from my hands/For such a flower would multiply/And populate the lands~ thesilentraven<br /> And I began to rival legends/Long entombed before my birth./But for all my much envied fame/The lust for more would not abate./The plaques and prizes with my name/Will, like all things, disintegrate. ~ TheEpic95 now known as Helena_Noel

View profile
Jade ! It has been far too long since I last stumbled upon one of your amazing creations. Delicious to taste. Exotic to smell. And beautiful to feel. I suppose that's partly because I have been away from TI for long. But I'm back now and may I just begin with saying how this poem simply rings true with what I believe.  On the writing. If this is good, I wonder what is great? On the topic: I truly FELT this poem. Great , the fact that you put this in words. I could almost see you through the last stanza. Leaning and saying all those words and asking, and holding that question there lightly yet the accusation for those is so poignant that I'm sure if such people read it, they would truly be overwhelmed.    Love, Saphira. Take Care.
LiraDaeris PLATINUM said...
on May. 23 2013 at 10:01 pm
LiraDaeris PLATINUM, Tucson, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 135 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You&#039;re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who&#039;ll decide where to go...&rdquo; <br /> ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You&#039;ll Go!

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My favorite stanza is the one about it being the fire that puts out the souls. It's the perfect way to show how people call Christianity something that douses us, yet it's a fire- how they say it's the opposite of what it was meant to be. Very well done! I like it a lot and it means a lot to us persecuted by the agendas set by the system.
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on May. 21 2013 at 5:08 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
Thank you, that means a lot! I think it's important to be open about it, so that others know it's okay for them to be open to! :D
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on May. 21 2013 at 5:07 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
Thanks, I'm really glad I was able to touch a few people. I think it's a shame how religion can't even be discussed anymore without preconceptions and hatred. Thanks for your feedback!
Carpe-Caffeam GOLD said...
on May. 21 2013 at 3:20 pm
Carpe-Caffeam GOLD, No Where, Florida
10 articles 0 photos 444 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If it weren&rsquo;t for the coffee, I&rsquo;d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.&rdquo; &ndash;David Letterman

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This is very much reality for me as I'm an open Christian, even though it's pretty much frowned at to discuss religion at my school. I think you did a beautiful job in expressing religion in this poem and I LOVE the sauciness in the last paragraph. :D Another amazing piece! Have a nice day!
TargonTheDragon GOLD said...
on May. 21 2013 at 3:08 pm
TargonTheDragon GOLD, Ofallon, Missouri
15 articles 16 photos 292 comments

Favorite Quote:
First dentistry was painless.<br /> Then bicycles were chainless,<br /> Carriages were horseless,<br /> And many laws enforceless.<br /> <br /> Next cookery was fireless,<br /> Telegraphy was wireless,<br /> Cigars were nicotineless,<br /> And coffee caffeineless.<br /> <br /> Soon oranges were seedless,<br /> The putting green was weedless,<br /> The college boy was hatless,<br /> The proper diet fatless.<br /> <br /> New motor roads are dustless,<br /> The latest steel is rustless,<br /> Our tennis courts are sodless,<br /> Our new religion &mdash; godless.

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honestly Jade, you have no idea what this means to me. its what ive been trying to put into words for oh so very long. your an amazing writer. keep it up!    i especially like the last stanza. "you say it's some sort of unwholesome,  two-faced scheme. where is your evidence? who is your jury? surely not the devil who whishpers in  your ear? no, surely we have not been so blind."