PENSEES

PENSEES



WHAT I WANTED TO SAY
WAS WHAT A HORROR

WHAT AN IGNOBLE ACT
IT WAS

TO SEND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WOMEN
LOADED WITH BOMBS
TO STAND IN A MARKET PLACE
AND BE BLOWN UP

BUT WHILE CONDEMNING
TO KNOW IN FACT
OUR HANDS ARE NOT CLEAN

THE BIBLE DOESN’T HELP
IT ORDERS GENOCIDE
ON HAPLESS CIVILIANS

SINCE I BELIEVE
GOD
IS KIND AND MERCIFUL
I’D RATHER THINK
THAT THE WRITERS
PUT THE WORDS IN GOD’S MOUTH
TO JUSTIFY
THEIR ACTIONS
NOT GOD’S

THE BASIC TENET
IN ALL RELIGIONS
IS
DO NOTHING TO ANOTHER
THAT YOU WOULDN’T WANT
DONE
TO YOU

IN MY OWN LIFE
I KNOW OF
MY LAI
THE HOLOCAUST
PEARL HARBOR
GULAGS
COLONIALISM
INGRAINED POVERTY
RACIAL HATRED

TO WANT A BETTER WORLD
WE’RE TOLD IS VISIONARY

BUT I SAY GOD’S WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH

HAS GOD LIED TO US
HAS HE GIVEN US A WILL-O'-THE-WISP
TO FOLLOW

I MOURN MY SISTERS
THEIR SENSELESS DEATHS
AND HOPE THE WORLD
WILL NOT BE BLASÉ
ABOUT ANOTHER
DEATH

FRANK A VOLLMER