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Losing Faith

by Malika Bierstein

It’s not that I don’t want faith,
I’m jealous of the believers, sinners
who bend their bodies toward the earth
like reeds to kiss the holy water, bleeding
knees raw with repentance. They breathe
His breath in the morning, swallow Him with their soup at supper
and bow down before they go to sleep. He creeps

into the smallest places and builds a well
that never runs dry so long as they drop
down each night and reveal the reasons why
there is no hope without Him.

I turn on the prayer channel to try
and find some peace, but it cuts
to a commercial of a cruise line selling salvation
in a tropical vacation to St. Somewhere. How
I wish I could reach that salt-scattered shore, blue
glistening sea of tranquility, watch it wash away
this image of me down on my knees
half leaving, half pleading to be received.

06/22/2005

Posted on 06/22/2005
Copyright © 2024 Malika Bierstein

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Ashok Sharda on 06/24/05 at 03:33 AM

They breathe His breath in the morning, swallow Him with their soup at supper and bow down before they go to sleep. He creeps''... strong worded and in a matter of factly tone. This is what is of the so called believers and their faith. so full of faith in words and so sinful in their actions. I see some sarcasm in your jealousy.

Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 10/07/06 at 06:21 AM

Enjoyed your writing here. Thanks for the read.

Posted by Jean Mollett on 11/06/06 at 04:33 AM

Hi Milika, Good one.

Posted by Jo Halliday on 07/29/09 at 10:10 AM

The pleading to be received is just one of the methods of-- no, not faith-- but of showing your faith and proving your faith to yourself. You have sarcasm right on the money, but then who's it directed against? The type described here are just the worst form of unbelievers.

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