I've read some of the comments about this poem and feel that some point is
being missed here.
now either the last line is rhyme-forced or it is an honest statement.
Knowing you I accept the latter. So we have this poem of denial and yet the
last line is " affirmative" in the sense that you still feel Jesus figures
in your life i.e. he is still on your case. It reminds me of the Francis
Thompson poem " The Hound of Heaven" : 'I fled him down the nights and down
the years.'
This is clearly a poem not against Jesus at all but against the organised
religion that imposes strictures like hair cuts and dress colours. But, as
has been pointed out, that could be a charge levelled at so many other
religions. Im not offended by the poem. Regards . Arthur----- Original
Message -----
From: "Sally Evans" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 11:06 PM
Subject: New: Jesus : warning: anti-Christian
> warning
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> warning
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> anti christian
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> you might be offended if you are a strict Christian
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> JESUS
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> I haven't forgiven Jesus
> (though he's forgiven me)
> for frightening me as a child
> making me stoop on bended knee
>
> not to the great wide universe
> but to a narrow god,
> routing the bright plurality
> for one cussed despot.
>
> Nor for my hair being cut so short,
> my dresses sober black and grey,
> for hanging on a dirty cross
> when I desired to dance and play
>
> for taking credit for the flowers
> and lovely things that still crept in
> to the universe he occupied
> with so much thought of sin,
>
> for taking in my parents
> whose fault I think it wasn't
> (because I loved them more than him).
> He loves me? No he doesn't -
>
> he wants me in his hockey team
> he wants me on his side,
> he wants me to get up and say
> it was for me he died.
>
> I never heard such utter rot,
> I never heard such pish.
> The words that spring at once to mind
> are 'bicycle' and 'fish'.
>
> I don't want his forgiveness
> and I don't admire his god.
> I'd rather think that everything
> just happened out of mud.
>
> And he if ever listened
> to what stared him in the face,
> he'd stop saying he'd forgiven me
> and just get off my case.
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> Sally Evans
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