away from the safety
of my front door peep hole
I’m ambushed
in the false security of the mall

a lone disciple hands me a pamphlet
The Watchtower
wondering which more frightening
the propaganda or the propagandist?
recalling on 60 Minutes
its founder’s prediction
the world would end in 1914

my look of apprehension
evenly juxtaposed by her open smile
as she commences a pitch so well practiced
it’d make a car salesman blush

I dispute - she reacts
we debate dogmatically
‘til finally peeling myself away
like a two-day old Band-Aid
foolishly forgotten that lesson of long ago
“never argue with a brick wall”

© 1999
Revised © 2018

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04/01/2018

Posted on 04/01/2018
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti