St. Vlad

St. Vlad

You see clear halo there about his head.
Even foul enemies at New York Post
Acknowledge thoroughly, not just almost,
In him fierce sanctity that fills with dread
Vast demon horde. How many now have fled!
This is because behind him Holy Ghost
Is operating. NATO soon is toast.
Put silly Western lies at last to bed.
And every moment, fans, is icon now.
Saints suffer and are endlessly maligned.
Lacking in neurons, Biden has a cow—
Since overcoming God is task assigned.
Vlad, targeted, still struggles on somehow.
So victory is finally defined.

–Tom Riley

Instructions from the Grand Inquisitor

Instructions from the Grand Inquisitor

Just say what
you think. A heretic’s better
than a hypocrite.

–Tom Riley

De Lazaro Parabolico

De Lazaro Parabolico

Across the Great Abyss you view your foes.
In life, you always knew this day would come.
I’m preaching justice here. How wearisome
My mortal voice must sound, its highs and lows
So distant from the aural wine that flows
Where you reside! Indeed, I would be dumb
And keep my words from adding to the sum
Of human chattiness: this goodness knows.
But, oh, I need to comment on your joy
In lines that number twice the holy seven
Even if klutzy errors do annoy
The well-tuned ears of those who know the Leaven
Of Paradise! I’m glad for you, dear boy:
The best revenge is looking down from Heaven.

–Tom Riley

Vladimir

Vladimir

Yes, rivals had to be eliminated.
When you would save your people, that comes first.
The class of boyars then was subjugated.
Death was of course inflicted on the worst.
A long, dark past, devoted yet accursed,
Yielded to half-sincere renunciation.
A new faith was embraced – not in a burst
Of song, but through considered calculation.
Did hostile empires rise in detestation
Of what you had accomplished for the Rus?
An ally in the midst of complication
Appeared – and neutral nations just hung loose.
Loud enemies cried out: “Your armies stall!”
No, NATO never understood at all.

–Tom Riley

(In November 2016, in Moscow, Putin unveiled a statue of Vladimir the Great.)

Book of Acts

Book of Acts

The Book of Acts was once my favorite text.
Times change. Now Paul and Silas are a bore.
The spiritual muscles that they flexed
Back in the day impress me now no more.
They overturn what I would now restore.
They revolutionize what functioned fine.
When Paul went to the Gentiles, what a door
He opened. Chaos followed – by design.
Anyhow, such a view right now is mine.
Tomorrow I may alter once again.
Paul’s preachiness may slap me into line.
I’ve known such quick correction now and then.
Perspective may be what the ego lacks
When called upon to read the Book of Acts.

–Tom Riley

A Different Kind of Valentine

A Different Kind of Valentine

(for Mary)

Saints Cyril and Methodius were better.
No secular confusion now detracts
From what they did. The spirit and the letter
Are still intact, though intervening acts
And history’s interminable facts
Tortured the Christian flock in Slavic lands.
Did priests and bishops make unholy pacts
With Commies – and obey the wrong commands?
Da. Sure. Such failings, though, God understands
Better than we judgmental types admit.
Our wrath grows fierce, the product of our glands.
We try to take God’s view – but lack the wit.
Why am I going on so, anyway?
Happy Hearts-Chocolates-Roses-Romance Day!

Love,
T.R
14 February 2022

A Brand New New Orleans

A Brand New New Orleans

(for the Rev. Larry Beane)

In New Orleans, the Rebel cause is done.
They rush to worship Zulu idols now.
You Western Civ types shouldn’t have a cow.
Idolatry is popular and fun!
In former European times, the Sun
Was worshipped – as historians allow.
So why can’t our society kowtow
To savage whores? Your reasons given? None!
Let spiritual license now extend
Into the region of the Southern Cross!
Monotheistic claptrap had to end.
We douse our cities now in heathen sauce.
Crudity is the message we intend.
The Christian heroes of the South? No loss.

–Tom Riley

Athanasius Contra Mundum

Athanasius Contra Mundum

Constantius said it first.  It was a sneer—

But history embraced it as high praise.

Against the world in those uncertain days

You stood for what the future would hold dear,

O lonely pillar of the truth!  In fear,

Others adopted temporizing ways.

They would have lost themselves then in the maze

That sprawled throughout the explication sphere.

You saved them – and you did it with a roar.

Politeness was a lie you wouldn’t tell

When faced with doctrines hopeless at their core.

You judged your adversaries by their smell.

You lashed out fiercely at their pointless lore.

The world that you opposed went straight to Hell.

–Tom Riley

Sine Fide

Sine Fide

Without faith, even
the most fervent prayer is
only helpless worry.

–Tom Riley

Variations

Variations

Does Pope Insanity say ABC?
I sure could use a different alphabet.
Greek or Cyrillic might suit such as me.
Does Pope Insanity say ABC
And then insist that everyone agree?
He’ll make a better Christian of me yet.
Does Pope Insanity say ABC?
I sure could use a different alphabet.

–Tom Riley