After

Your religion speaks
a different religion to mine,
yet they speak, they speak.

Surely, we can teach them
to learn those words
we don't understand,
those movements of hands
and mouths, of offerings
and imaginings?

And isn’t that a thought
so foolish and childish
that only a religion could
shape it into being, or
even hold up into the light
and claim that it is not nonsense,

or, perhaps, a blasphemous mind
could do so too,
simply hoping to shock
their life into some meaning
that did not exist until
some meaning was needed,
as meaning is needed
in this suddenly quiet existence of mine?

Edward Lee’s poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen, The Blue Nib, and Poetry Wales.  His play Wall received a rehearsed reading as part of Druid Theatre’s Druid Debuts 2020. He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Orson Carroll, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy. His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com