The Shepherd and the Sphinx

Religion is a beautiful old monument like the pyramids or the great wall,
An eye-catching monstrosity built on the backs of the weak masses.
A testament to one man or being now standing idol,
Neither has with it today the purity of its intentions.

Just as the African offers trinkets to Gaza’s tourists,
The missionary hawks his wares to the African people.
Each buyer falls in love with the romanticism of the moment,
But removed from the preacher becomes weary of their purchase.

The pyramids failed,
Despite the devotion of the masses the pharaohs never made it to the after life
What wasn’t robbed from them as they slept is now ogled by busloads of heathens.

One man does not need a temple to be buried in, and no one book has all the answers.
The slaves of Egypt believed in their cause as much as the foot soldiers of God,
but each resigned themself to a bigger power that hadn’t their best interests at heart.

The pharaohs were not mere men but gods incarnate.
They brought fertility to a land, science to a people and a cause to the masses,
But exclusivity will always isolate, which in turn will breed hate.
Every idol is a false one, and no mortal contains within him a truth hidden from you or I.

Be good to your neighbour and they’ll do the same.
Black is black, white is white and grey is a challenge.
Question everything reasonably and you’ll get reasonable answers.
Think of those less fortunate but be fortunate you can think.

Written Oct 2007, inspired by several months in the middle east and on the sub continent, as an attempt to define my religious beliefs.