Denunciation

Denunciation

I’m denouncing false gods. Yes, I am.
I alone, I maintain, give a damn.
Please admire my vast zeal!
Please adore how I feel!
Please don’t say that my stance is a sham!

–Tom Riley

Church of QVC

Church of QVC

Vainly professing Christianity,
She practices another faith instead:
She worships at the Church of QVC.

The TV doesn’t make her bend the knee.
She spends and spends – and thus her god is fed.
Vainly professing Christianity

Interferes not at all, as all can see.
Aloud on screen are sacred pitches read.
She worships at the Church of QVC.

Mammon beholds and smiles indulgently.
“Hey, don’t mind me, dear lady! Go ahead
Vainly professing Christianity!

I’m thrilled to view the rank hypocrisy.
I’m glad to see that principle has fled.”
She worships at the Church of QVC—

And conscience, murdered, doesn’t need to be
Involved. Along the broad path is she sped,
Vainly professing Christianity.
She worships at the Church of QVC.

–Tom Riley

Things We Say to God

The Things We Say to God

The things we say to God, as we suppose,

Are formal prayers acquired at mother’s knee—

Expressions of a polished piety

And of the truths that everybody knows.

Oh, we repeat them – and how vast it grows,

Our confidence!  Expanding steadily,

It calls on every child’s heart to agree.

We’re warmed by an inheritance that glows.

But, in reality, the things we say

To God are exhalations of despair,

Obscene or wordless as the mindless day

Crushes the plans we’ve made.  The earthly air

Doesn’t cringe at the anger we display.

We stub our toes and order God to care.

–Tom Riley

Songs of Uplift

Songs of Uplift

Peace on earth you expected. You’d sing
Songs of uplift – and cheerfully bring
To the meeting your dues:
Loads of positive views!
You expected the wrong fucking thing.

–Tom Riley

Smooth Talker

Smooth Talker

 

The vampire savior slyly preaches
That death is immortality.
How many hearts his message reaches!
The vampire savior slyly preaches
A satin gospel, free of screeches.
Are we convinced? We seem to be.
The vampire savior slyly preaches
That death is immortality.

 

–Tom Riley

Quite an Offer

Quite an Offer

 

Freedom, Lord, you have offered. The tale
Is an old one – and how can we fail
In acute recognition?
You say freedom’s our mission.
Without doubt, quite an offer. No sale.

 

–Tom Riley

Bubble, Bubble

Bubble, Bubble

 

“What is bubbling,” they asked, “in your head?”
“Crazy insights my heart and soul dread,
Vistas yawning in space,
And the Evil One’s face!
How I wish it were good sense instead!”

 

—Tom Riley

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

 

I have trends to reverse. I reverse them.
I have lines in my head. I rehearse them.
Toward religion I nod.
Blessings, though, are for God.
I have people to curse, and I curse them.

 

—Tom Riley

Prophet Wil

The Prophet Wil

 

Wil Wheaton has rejected idle prayers.
His teaching is authoritative, too.
If you won’t do what he demands of you,
Then the God who does not exist just stares
At your vain orisons and pious airs
With the contempt that witty Wil can cue.
The absent God will beat you black and blue.
You’ll have to go to Hell for your repairs.
The sacrifice required is gun control.
Give up your foolish, antiquated rights!
That is the only way to save your soul.
That is the only stairway to the heights
Religion has propounded as your goal.
Govern your being by Wil Wheaton’s lights!

 

—Tom Riley

 

(Atheist Wil Wheaton assails prayers for victims of mass shooting.)

Maenads

Maenads

 

“Dionysus, this drink is divine—
And we’re feeling so much more than fine.
Whom shall we tear apart?
We are eager to start.
You put something, we sense, in the wine.”

 

—Tom Riley