impoverished people love pulpits
looking up to power feels good
suffering is eased for a moment
the music and sideshow enters
the bloodstream like a drug
propelling the pusher to great heights
flights of fanatical reverie like he’s never seen
i am their king he sings
hand me the crown
then offer up your youngest
i shall take them to the burning bush
oh how the fires will rage
as i take over mind and body
this is the will of lords
my passion shall be quenched without question
because my words rain down like heaven’s hail
i give them direction
their tithes come in envelopes of affection
then sealed with silence
their booty is my bounty
i’m gone make ’em clap to this!
inspiring the masses is hard work
i need restitution for all i’ve sacrificed
no one knows the wars i’ve fought
the trouble i’ve seen
all they see is the dream
uncover me – lay me bare
who am i really under this lace front hair?
a simple servant – a solider with strong arms
serving my time in this grand army
oh this is way bigger than me
i have duties and responsibilities
it’s a 24-hour job
controlling and containing this unhinged mob
their tears weigh heavily on me
their needs become my needs
oh how to fix them?
no one sees the light that shines on me in the night
it gives instructions
the illumination was a constant visitor in my youth
while i slept it pulled me awake
i’d then close my eyes
and prepare myself for the salvation-shake
my whole being would begin to vibrate
i shut off my emotions and ceased to be
this was my daily lesson
the power to preach
was being being passed down to me
it was my calling
i answered the charge
it’s now my lot to lead
no one can judge
let’s sing now oh children
sway and shout!
let’s tap our feet and stomp this devil out!
we’ve created a wall of love
no one can break
outsiders may question
but they have no clue
now tell me again
what you came here to do!
forget it all
let your troubles come tumbling down
i’ll lift you up and take it on as my own
we are a family
some broken
some splintered
i am the glue that keeps us together
without me there is no you
with no you there is no me
we can’t escape this spiritual destiny
leave if you want to
you’ll always come back
because the love i’m laying down
is stronger than crack
don’t mistake the message though
i’m not a drug seller
some see me as worse
a self-appointed truth teller
If you like the content of Lyric Fire, please vote for me to win a Shorty Award:Â Shorty Awards: Honoring The Best Producers of Short Content On Social Media.
© 2012 – 2014, TamekaMullins. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
I really loved this! It’s maybe my favorite of all of yours!!! This has so many meanings..especially during this Presidential Elections period!!! I love the POV that you wrote this from!
http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2012/02/juggling-with-chain-saw-get-bonked.html
The title came to me before the words, but I hope it all came together in the end. I was thinking of a lot of ways the masses can be controlled and manipulated by people in power. It could be through our religious, political or business leaders. We must be careful when we follow the doctrines of others. Their calling not be the truest! Happy Friday Jim and it’s so good to see you back out here blogging!
So powerful, Tameka!
I could visualize the whole church scene through your amazing words; the calling of a pastor, the temptation of power, the self-proclaimed truth instead of pointing toward the God of all truth.
Amazing and awesome poem!
Blessings always!
Martha! Your comments mean the world as I am always inspired by your writings about faith, God and truth! Blessings to you as well!
Wow..I am almost speechless..really profound and moving.
Thanks so much Jessica!
WoW! Tameka, I’m thinking of Pastors, Politicians, Puritans and, of course, Personally Myself…
This is something EVERYONE who others look up to needs to constantly guard against.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom in such a beautiful & powerful way — you are such a gift!
This is very soulful, filled with passion and hope. I can feel the rush. You’ve summoned up what so many feel in a single POV, and in truth it could be many. Nicely done.
I was hoping that you would be able to see all sorts of subject examples in the piece! Thanks for reading Linda!
Hi Brenda. Welcome to Lyric Fire. I truly appreciate your comment. Come back again! 🙂
I remember sitting in a pew, disagreeing with the preacher (in my mind) and then chiding myself for disagreeing with the preacher; God’s anointed. This happened over and over again for years. Come to find out I was right. No man can replace that inner voice or usurp the authority of it.
This was a fabulous poem Tameka. It triggered many thoughts for me.
I see you;)
I can relate Leah. Sometimes people in power (preachers, presidents, priests, politicians)have the gift to persuade because of their oratory skills (pardon the pun in this case)and showmanship, but just because someone has charisma doesn’t make them a good leader. If you feel something within that tells you the person isn’t right, they probably aren’t. Thanks for always seeing me the way you do! 🙂
This is you at your best Tameka. You are firm, direct to the point and your frankness hits the heart.
I think, Jesus has said something to that effect too ~ Follow their words but not their examples (Mt.23,3).
I think people should be trained to think critically and be assertive so that their own voices could be heard.
I love priests and for their weaknesses I pray for pardon. I cannot say the same thing of our political leaders because we criticize them well. But I do pray for more people like you who’d stand for the truth more than anything else.
On my part, I do have to be always aware of what I say and teach the kids and the people I interact with. May my words and actions always be lifegiving 🙂 If not, then do tell me (please 😉
I was imagining the whole poem as I read. You really brought out the power and passion of the speaker. How enraptured, mesmerized and captivated one can be with a person who has that kind of sway over people.
Your comments are always as beautiful and reflective as you are as Melissa. Thank you!
Rimly, it sure can be. That’s why we must take stock of our own souls before we let others take hold! Thanks girlie!