Antagonist

I'm not one who kneels,
palms pressed together,
muttering words that soothe.

I don't sing, worship, or praise,
but I'll bow my head for grace,
accepting, but never giving.

I can't.

I'll sit amongst those,
I'll sit in the rows,
I'll listen,
to the words like flames.

Flames like fingers
grab my hair,
scorch my skin,
blazing, burning,
always hurting.

I'm me, just me.
I'm nothing,
nothing they want me to be.

I can't.

I'm a servant to Life.
I believe in the Path,
the one I will find.

I don't need that building;
I don't need those people
because they don't need me.

I'll listen, learn, and accept.
I'll be alone, but not entirely.

I can't.

They'll be there.
Someone has to
guide me.

[ SJM ]