faith

Faith's only built on doubt,
though I don't mean to say
that only those who tear their hair
and scream
are happier than anybody else;
but all the notions
your pushed your life off against
are easier to fall back to
than refuse evermore, is that a deal?
The cynic's a romantic
in his heart
and surely those who shout
that God is love all day
must go home sometimes
to their steak and chips
and wonder what they mean
by what they say.
Even the parrot
sitting in his cage
reciting his single stupid phrase by rote
must sometimes stop
quite still on his trapeze
and wonder "Pretty who?........"

written early 1970s

© John Close