Excited Fire

Salvation

Duane Francis took a look at this topic with the excellent read “Inner City State of Mind” on his site here. It inspired me to post one I’d written months ago with a similar, if more controversial context.  I hope you like it.

Churches and Liquor stores
booze and God
explore with me the path
of the neighborhood that is ours
I count a store every mile
at least twenty churches in that same time
a liquor store to match
I guess even salvation isn’t a strong enough patch

everyone wants to escape
no one moves away
they deflect it with the thoughts
“where would I go anyway?”
It’s sad
the way this place exists
poverty mixed with pleasure
street peddlers of bliss
in small enough packages
the soul is abandoned

depression under the surface
still most would say it’s worth it
those that want out
seek refuge in the hands of another
they pray to the same God
that has taken from them their brother
their mother or their father
they question His will
yet they show up every Sunday
and continually fill the till

the preacher drives a Benz
his house paid by the will
of the people every Sunday
as they struggle to pay their own bills
They receive the message
and pray hard to receive blessings
go home and the next day
have a shot with their breakfast
they walk a mile to the store
for just a loaf of bread
yet salvation is to be had in Heaven
that’s what the preacher said

don’t worry about tomorrow
though you may struggle
the meek inherit the Earth
when the kingdom of God follows
though truthfully to me
it can’t help but sound hollow
and make me question thee
I know it’s blasphemy

But who benefits?
if my soul is pure
if I can’t afford the bread at the corner store
If my credit is poor and the neighborhood too
and I’m staring at a mortgage that’s ninety days past due
and prayer is the only answer according to the preacher dude
and crack is the only option say the drug dealing fools
and the kids are crying…they’re hungry for food
and God will provide, I’m wondering if it’s soon
because I’ve been on my knees so long that the floors now have grooves
and I do believe, really I do
but the Bible isn’t paying the bills
and it makes a horrible stew
so please God if you can hear me…
Answer me!  Please…

I don’t need to hear your voice, but I could use a miracle or three
show me Your will be done and that you hear my prayers
show me that my praise is worth more than my current nightmare
I know that you’re able, just show me you care
Or is the devil the only one who truly gives a damn
he offers me money beyond my wildest dreams
he offers me pleasure beyond all extremes
all he wants in return is the soul that I hold
he makes a tempting offer, why should it not be sold?
Waiting on your mercy, it’s started going cold
Is it any use, then, for either of us to own
maybe he’s the best
As I’m surely under duress
and he offers a way out
and you offer…more stress

will I burn to the ashes of a fiery lake
is that any worse than feeding my kids with empty plates
silently praying as we slowing waste away
waiting for the salvation of Judgment Day
I pray to you in hopes of a sign
Please show me the way
and please…mind the time
I know you move in mysterious ways
but the bills need to be paid
this foreclosure needs to be stayed
And the devil is on every corner trying to steal me away

So In your name, I humbly pray…
Please show some compassion and take the pain away
at least let it be delayed
let my kids be OK
I don’t really ask for much
I just want them to be safe

They walked to school today
and were approached by a man
he was in a white van
he had candy in his hands
he wanted them to join
he offered them money
luckily my oldest son
he’s no dummy

he politely declined
the man drove away
but Lord, what would have happened
if I hadn’t raised him that way?

And on the way home
there was a older kid
he offered them membership
in that gang of his
he promised the usual
money, clothes and jewels
the ability to help me out
how to ditch school

What type of world
do you allow to exist
That troubles such as these
are put off on innocent kids
I’m confused…honestly
to be blunt, I’m somewhat pissed
So I pray to you for guidance
that I may understand
How it all fits inside of your master plan
Show me the way, the truth and the light
That I might once again sleep peacefully at night

Amen

-Malcolm Lloyd

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 11:08 am and is filed under Poetry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.