Pagosa Springs Artists

The Need For Purgatory

 

We are born into a material,
sensual world that grabs us,
forcefully attacks us flashing
vibrant colors, siren smells,
appealing tastes, instincts
felt deep within our core.

We thrive on long childhoods
of exploration, parental protection,
mind stretching body and soul
nutrition. We learn to recognize
stupidity, eccentricity, duplicity.

Ultimately we are turned loose
to cruise creation on our own.
We taste, we toy, we tease God.
Often we haven’t gladdened a soul.
With flare of ego or braggadocio
we have terrorized, colonized,
or simply lied, vaporized others’
dreams or lives. Unremembered
petulance, verbal violence,
indolence, secret orgy or revenge...
eventually, the unmeditated
life requires purgatory.

God never gives up, you see.
By way of grace He works at
both the recluse and reprobate,
the missed opportunity, even
unrepentant exploitation,
offense always taken or
nothing ever given, want
of sympathy or sensitivity.
All life’s unheeded calls
call for purgatory.

 

first published in SOUL SEARCH Chapbook

also published in Streams of Living Water Anthology

©2013 Bonnie Manion

   

Poem of the Month

  • March - 2024
  • ""
  • February - 2024
  • ""
  • January - 2024
  • ""
  • December - 2023
  • ""
  • November - 2023
  • ""
  • October - 2023
  • ""
  • September - 2023
  • ""
  • August - 2023
  • ""
  • July - 2023
  • ""
  • June - 2023
  • ""
  • May - 2023
  • ""
  • April - 2023
  • ""