If I Talk Religion

Melissa R. Mendelson
If I talk religion,
will you unplug,
disconnect from discussion?
I found God
in the midst of night terrors,
demons that wanted to break me,
faceless bullies bent on hate,
and my school days were hell.
Home was war.
I didn't want to exist,
but I folded my hands together.
And I cried for help,
but help never came.
I had to survive.
I could have turned my back
on what we call religion,
but I held on,
pulling strength into my abyss.
And I survived,
and my faith keeps me strong.
But when you talk religion,
I laugh,
crack jokes,
and make fun,
but it's my defense.
Pull my layers back,
see my scars,
and truly know
that I do believe.
But my belief
is not my blindness,
and I see.
I see the world.
I see its hate,
but if we talk religion,
will peace find its way
into the darkest corners
of its bleeding heart?
Or will we
talk no more?

Published by Melissa R. Mendelson

Newspaper Reporter for Long Island's Smithtown Messenger Newspaper and its sub-issues, The Brookhaven Review, The Ronkonkoma Review, and Medford News; Freelance Writer for Hudson Valley's Photo News; Movie a...  View profile

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