by Doug Westberg

Member since:
January 4, 2007

He Lives In Fear Of Scandalizing God: Mindful Poetry Contest #8 Rondel Prime MP2012; Gather Writing Essential Friday WWAW

April 11, 2012 11:21 AM UTC (Updated: April 11, 2012 11:27 AM UTC)

views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 35

Â

He lives in fear of scandalizing God;
So, never having lived, he longs to die.
Why has my God forsaken me, he cries,
Left here where everybody else is flawed?

He piles on prayers like greensmen laying sod;
Without his rosary not a day goes by.
He lives in fear of scandalizing God;
So, never having lived, he longs to die.

His soul's become reflected in his bod-
yâ€”crippled, pinched, stoop-shouldered and half blind.
That he should be condemned to cling to lifeâ€”
Obsessed with death, he finds it very odd.

He lives in fear of scandalizing God;
So, never having lived, he longs to die.

Mindful Poetry Prompt here

FWE Prompt here

Â© 2012 Douglas J. Westberg. All Rights Reserved. Â Please share this on Gather.com, and elsewhere on the web by means of a link back to this page, but please do not copy. Â Doug's latest book is The Depressed Guy's Book of Wisdom from Chipmunka Publishing.

Doug's Gather Group is Depression and Creativity, devoted to creative writing about depression and related illnesses, and creative writing as therapy. Â Please consider joining. Â You can read more of Doug's posts there, or here.

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11 people recommend this post

Mustafa Demiri

Atticus *.

Alison H.

Ann Marcaida

Katryn D.

J. Reid

Comments: 35

A. F. Stewart Apr 11, 2012, 11:58am UTC

A potent poem.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 12:50pm UTC

Thanks, Anita!

reply to this comment

Phillip DeNise Apr 11, 2012, 12:23pm UTC

[[...crippled, pinched, stoop-shouldered and half blind.]]
not sure who we[you] are talking about here; I have my days you know?

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 12:50pm UTC

It's not you, at any rate... ;-)

reply to this comment

Sandy Moore Apr 11, 2012, 2:38pm UTC

Good poem that fits a lot of people.

Thank you for sharing with Watching The Wind Blow By

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:36pm UTC

thanks, Sandy!

reply to this comment

Franklin Newman Apr 11, 2012, 3:04pm UTC

Incredible. One who doesn't live. Like looking at a work by Donne without the faith, thus allowing you to see the reality.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:37pm UTC

Thanks, Franklin!

reply to this comment

Granny Janny Apr 11, 2012, 3:04pm UTC

I'd rather live. Excellent use of the form.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:37pm UTC

Thanks, Jan!

reply to this comment

Veronica Hosking Apr 11, 2012, 3:20pm UTC

To quote Billy Joel, Only the good die young.

Katryn D. Apr 11, 2012, 7:02pm UTC

OK...now you're the one getting songs stuck in your head from reading a poem :P

Veronica Hosking Apr 11, 2012, 7:08pm UTC

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints... :P

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:37pm UTC

Thanks, guys!

reply to this comment

Alice G. Apr 11, 2012, 4:01pm UTC

A very sad description of a Christian's life. It need never be like that you know.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:38pm UTC

No, of course not. Thanks for looking.

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Apr 11, 2012, 4:39pm UTC

A look into the depths of depression. Well done.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:39pm UTC

Thanks, John!

reply to this comment

J. Reid Apr 11, 2012, 6:36pm UTC

Smiles...

Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:39pm UTC

Thanks!

reply to this comment

Ann Marcaida Apr 11, 2012, 7:05pm UTC

Now featured at Examining Our Religion.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 7:39pm UTC

Thanks for the feature, Ann!

reply to this comment

Angie O. Apr 11, 2012, 8:31pm UTC

Many do seem to sadly follow this path. Nice message, good poem.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 10:26pm UTC

Faith without works is dead... Thanks for looking!

reply to this comment

Alison H. Apr 11, 2012, 9:47pm UTC

A sad story and all too true for many. Well-penned.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 10:26pm UTC

Yes it is. Thanks, Alison!

reply to this comment

Atticus *. Apr 11, 2012, 10:00pm UTC

Ah, where faith become a crutch for the crippled soul. Funny how it never seems to get them anywhere when it is thus employed. Great poem.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 10:27pm UTC

Indeed. Thanks, Atticus!

reply to this comment

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Apr 11, 2012, 10:39pm UTC

This man is filled with anxiety. Strong refrain, Doug.

Your success at a rondel prime has its place at Mindful Poetry.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Apr 11, 2012, 10:47pm UTC

One more comment is that I'm not so sure including a rosary with this honestly fits the stereotype you seek to portray. At least not American Catholics, we're usually not super uptight and angst-filled about the second commandment because we deleted it! (It's the one about not making an idol or bowing to anyone but God.)

But maybe this comment belongs on your other post about faith...

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 11:17pm UTC

"we're usually not super uptight and angst-filled about the second commandment because we deleted it!" I don't understand your point here.

The rosary element is true to life and probably more prevalent than you think among American Catholics over--I don't know, what?--70.

reply to this comment

stephen berwaldt Apr 11, 2012, 11:08pm UTC

Poor tortured soul...surely God never intended us to be so...there must be some permissible happiness in this life. I liked the poem. I have a bit of problem with bod-y being on two lines...but you are the man... Good job, my friend.

Thank you submitting to Gathers Luminous Writers and Artists.

Doug Westberg Apr 11, 2012, 11:18pm UTC

Thanks, Stephen!

Irina Dimitric Apr 12, 2012, 1:36am UTC

I agree with Stephen's remarks... But the poem is very powerful.

Doug Westberg Apr 12, 2012, 2:19pm UTC

Thanks, Irina!

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