A really powerful piece. I can't really relate to the subject matter, but your words helped me understand how a person in that position would feel. The italicized lines in between were a good touch.

I liked this:
"My hallelujahs are bright and tearful
I am making a joyful noise unto the Lord
And in return I find security"

And this:
"We rise and tell everyone of our truth, our one way"

Thanks for posting this.

I agree with everything you said in your end note. And I hope your kin is doing fine. As always, great poem, good job, keep on bringing the good stuff.

I cried.

While no one can excuse abuse of people by men 'of the church', though I hesitate to call them that, God never approved of such abuse.

As always, powerful and persuasive writing, Cherry.

Things like these always depress me though. It makes it seem as if you cannot trust anyone in the world, or you'll be hurt. Your writing nowadays mostly scares me, and at the same time, opens my eyes. I'm not sure wether I'm to thank you for that or not. Either way, you have great talent and courage - to be able to see the world as it is, and not be scared. Like me.

I'm with Eliana here. That IS a blasphemy against God and Christianity. Pastors, Priests, Reverends, or whatever else, have no RIGHT to do such a thing. God's NEVER advocated such a thing.
God never advocated penance either...
The point is, whether this was you or someone else, it's something that God is against.

Oh... and although this is coming from absolutely NO WHERE, I have to say something...
God loves you. He desires to have you back in His presence. He isn't some machine whose job is to create and then ignore His creation. No, He's a loving God whose greatest desire is to commune with US, quite possibly the most immoral and evil of all His creations (minus Satan and his minions). He wants to do that so MUCH that He gave His very own Son to die on the cross for us. If that's not love than I'm a furless rat with a beak.

Sorry. I know full well that belongs on 'My God doesn't love me', but I wanted to say it NOW.

You are absolutely right. It's despicable how people have used the church to their own advantage.
I love this poem. The rhyming words in rapid succession were just amazing. I adore that technique.

Indeed it does (I was guessing something along those lines anyway ^^). I forgot the consort of Yahweh bit, it sounds awfully familiar. Hurrah for mythological irony.

Asherah was thought to be the counterpart, female side of God. Worshipped as the Queen of Heaven and the consort of Yaweh by the Caanites and Semites. The Hebrew goddess was eradicated when the patriarch society finally succeeded in eradicating the old ways. Asherah is a fertility Goddess, a 'Blessing of the Breasts and Womb.' A celebration of female organs in a way. I thought it would be a mildly ironic title for the poem.

Plus the song at the beginning uses the word "ashre" in the lyrics, which is Hebrew for "we are one" but which many others think is a misspelling of the name Asherah.

Answer your question? :)

"And everywhere people talk about his death / But I only ever see my own." I think it's well done . . . [the poem] I especially liked the italicized lines breaking it up and such. Also liked the line "scripture falls to ashes in my mouth." Why "Asherah" for the title . . . ? She's a goddess, ne? Astarte/Ishtar?

I live near Boston, and there's been lots of coverage of the investigations and such. I always wonder what goes on in the abusers' heads. Well--good poem. I'm surprised it's the only one on this topic that I've seen here.

This was so sad, I almost cried. And that doesn't happen very often. It's a shame, an absolute blashpemy, a crime against God, man, and the faceless girl with her eyes to the pulpit, that a man so trusted, and supposed to bring the love and joy of God to others brings instead pain and tears, sin and lies. I pray that your kin would find peace despite what she's gone through.

I live right near Boston so I was in the midst of it when the scandal in the Boston diosece (sp) erupted. When you believe, when someone used your belief, it's one of the worst betrayals of all. Maybe it is the worst, but I no say because I tired.

Thank you, Sakura-san, for your ever-beautiful and enlightening poems. The only thing I would mention is the formatting - it can be confusing between the italics, figuring out a new para - perhaps a few more spaces for the baka's like me. ^^;;

Sekai wo kaeru!