well
now you're gone
and strangely
i grieve

i abandoned
the church
when i was old enough
to understand it
because i refuse
to believe
we're born in sin
i'll commit my own
thank you

inquisitions
colonizations
genocidal dogma
and
pedophile wolves
in bloody sheepskins
and you ask
what is the
church to me?

but you were
a beacon
a lonely light
shining in a cold sky
of faith
and spoke the words
of the Christ
not the church

father
how did you feel
to be surrounded
by the most corrupt
men
in the world?
thank you
for keeping them
at bay

thank you
for your faith
and your honesty
and for remaining
human
despite what
your followers
tried to make you

thank you
for making me
believe
not all christians
were evil
and maybe their bible
isn't a total
fabrication

thank you
for extending
your hand
to the oppressed of
the world
though they were
the enemies
of your faith

thank you
for letting me feel
safe enough
to say
thank you

now you're gone
and i fear
what's to come

now you're gone
and i pray
your people
can stand

i hope you found
the peace that was
promised
because i'd hate
to think
you were wrong

if there's anyone
to deserve it
it would be you

so long poppa

so long
and thank you