Hoodwinking A Few Hallelujahs


He made the church his pigeon
by hoodwinking a few hallelujahs
with a faux born again passing on needles.

Nothing feeds the collection plate
like a lie painted with enough truth
to make the organ play an altar call.

More attention should have been paid
to the serpent in the pulpit, but Eden
needed to be weeded with passing the blame.

Death comes when the hour glass is empty
or sooner if heroin loves an alcohol chaser.

It doesn’t matter if the star was tarnished…
It just matters if the choir can still sing
in the false key of the good old days.



©Susie Clevenger 2016

Mama Zen wanted me to shock her in 77 words or less. I got a bit windy. It was hard to pair down a story (especially a true one) that has so much more to tell. I've got a lot more forgiving to do.


Comments

Jim said…
"More attention should have been paid to the serpent in the pulpit, but Eden needed to be weeded with passing the blame."
I love those lines, Susie, "The Devil made me do it." We don't hear that much any more, are the weeds growing back. I know there are a lot of serpents spewing their venom, see them on most every newscast. Flavored with much, much hypocrisy. Especially the "B..."
..
Maude Lynn said…
All I can say is that I'm dying to hear the whole story.
Kerry O'Connor said…
Some forms of hypocrisy are worse than others, and this kind sticks in my throat.
brudberg said…
This is so chilling... nothing is worse than failing the trust of the collar... passing needles... of molesting choir boys.. I'm shocked.
Carol Campbell said…
This is indeed shocking! Very rich with detail!
Bekkie Sanchez said…
Amen sister! The trust that is put into religion and the people who push it..if only that belief and energy could be put into something that could actually help the human race!
De Jackson said…
Oh, my gosh. That title. Fantastic. This is awesome.
kaykuala said…
It is such a tragedy when religion is used for nefarious activities. Hypocrisy at its most damning!

Hank
Brendan said…
Been to that river for baptism by that preacher. You met the challenged and burnt it down.
Other Mary said…
Yes, and this seems to be way too much of organized religion these days. But as MZ said, I too would love to hear the whole story.
Magaly Guerrero said…
I'm with Mama Zen (in the dying to read the whole story bit).

When it comes to religious figures using the faith of their people for gain, I get so angry that I can barely think. We know the world is full of liars. But when they come around pretending to care, it's just too much. Too damn much.
Outlawyer said…
Ha. Wonderfully vivid, Susie! Too much of this! Thanks. K.