Revolt

It's enough to hear
the tyranny of lies
to make you revolt

"well-poisoners", "criminals",
"thugs", the labels hardly change;

but with so many hues of persuasion,
with friendship, camaraderie,
falling apart,

what can possibly unite
the forces of good?

The common flag,
the rallying cry
should be this:

the unflinching
pursuit of Truth.

And the outspoken understanding:
to not label or write off
a fellow seeker

as so and so
for possessing a different point of view.

Old Joe

well he ain't talked about in the bible much
we know he worked wood, we know he was tough
he wasn't a high priest, blessing at will
but if old Joe won't, then nobody will

he had some fright in his youth
had quite a few to tell you the truth
but he changed his mind and kept God's will
so if old Joe won't, then nobody will

think you can raise a child just like that
then try again, with an army on your back
that's what Joe did, and did with skill
so if old Joe won't, then nobody will

as the wee one got bigger, so did his exploits
but if things got tough, he knew where to get comfort
old Joe didn't mind, he made peace with God's will
so if old Joe won't, then nobody will

sure Mary had her own rough ride
but the one who wept by her side
was told: "don't climb that hill,
cos if you won't make it, then nobody will"

well I don't know how to believe that much
the empty tomb, and all that stuff
but no tale or sermon will change what I feel
that if old Joe won't make it, none of us will


Note: I should add that according to tradition, Saint Joseph died before Jesus' crucifixion, so in this sense the poem is not historical.