Today, as I sat
upon the hard, wooden pew
listening to the booming voice
under your influence,
an urge came over me;
the urge to weep.
At first I believed
the cause to be
my pure exhaustion,
but then my epiphany
rose from the pit of my stomach
and up to my throat
where it stuck.

I wanted to believe,
but something
would not allow.
I was ashamed
that I had not upheld
my end of the bargain.
I deserved to die
and burn in Hell.