Abelief

no gods or devils here, ma'am

no spells or powers, sir

just this

small-town reality's kiss

spilled blood and coffee

pain and tears

both

crystal on my eyes

no justice but what we make

no meaning but what we take

no purpose but that we break

we made this world in our image

cruel and hateful

like the gods we dreamt up

I cannot tell you what I believe

because I don't believe in anything

but I can tell you what I don't believe

and much of it comes from there

that place

the pit of human hatred

that teaches us that

men over women

white people over people of colour

breeders over queers

cis over trans

and funny how all your books

all your gods

all your dogma starts there too

cruel and vindictive

dogs requiring the collars of modernity

no wonder god and dog are the same words

rabid monsters untamed and wild

ripping the throats out of the innocent

or puppies trained to piss outdoors

where we don't have to worry about it

and for what it's worth

I love my dogs more than your gods

they've actually given me love

they were there for me when I bled

they were there for me when I was beaten

they were there for me when I cried

and your gods supplied the blows and cuts

fortified the hands of the men who hurt me

with scripture and pulpit

so, no

I don't believe

no gods or devils here, ma'am

we're all sold out

-o0o-