Swing Low

Swing low, sweet chariot...
poignant and emotion laden.
Comin' for to carry me home...
melancholy but hopeful.

My thrift store radio
bringing salvation to me,
a Sunday morning show,
an emphatic message.

Their faces change
but they all speak preacher,
words enunciated
with historical emphasis.

The free gift offered
and then the request for funds,
so the free gift can continue
to still be given free.

Thirty minutes to convince,
truth delivered with prejudice
come to their special church
is the same as come to Jesus.

Words of judgement,
dire warnings reverberate.
Christ loves you but
only if you do what is right.

Salvation only appears possible
if you are holy and don't need him.
What will the bragger say,
I made it to heaven on my own?

Will your recipe work?
With much labor and
and self sacrifice,
will you earn eternal life?

Swing low sweet chariot,
comin' for to carry me home.

a reply to: grayeagle

I quite like this poem... the only thing that is bothering me would be the "doom"-feeling attributed the personal level at the end. The reason: the world has over 4200 diffrent religions, and i really do not find it very plausible that 4199 of these are going to somwhat "hell"... for not "beliving"...

Otherwise, its a good one.

a reply to: octahedron

I agree! I was trying to communicate that many people have a tendency to pursue a "strict recipe" in their approach to eternal life. There are many contradictions in religion. The airways are filled with hypocrisy. I pursue a personal believe in a loving God that I can't impress with my mighty efforts but can approach with love.

Peace

a reply to: grayeagle

Wow I really liked that. Powerful.

Hey greyeagle - another great poem! I like the structure of it, and the rhyme hits right where it is most effective.
I appreciate the story-telling too, the "thrift-store radio" blaring out an emphatic "Come to Jesus through Our Church" message on a Sunday morning, and your personal reflections on the "money for the mission" and "God's love is free but our mission ain't" really hit home with me, as did the paradox of salvation... Nothing like a radio preacher for the "scared straight" message of conditional-love!

Thank you for posting, as always!

- AB