Tale of The Civilized Religion

They call it life
They call it living
They call it…

Do you know?

They call it ‘custom’
They call it ‘norm’
They call it ‘ritual’

Then they think
They can call it
RELIGION

They love to abide
By it…
They love to force you to
Abide by it…

Is it for you?
Is it for your benefit?
Is it for your existence?

Or it is because they
Want you to kneel
Before their desire?

Is bowing to the Master’s desire
RELIGION?

What and who is the
MASTER?

Is it time?
Is it power?
Is it the mother
Of all creation?

Or is it as THEY
See it, the time
Of
DEVOURING?
The time when religion
Is eaten up by time
Destined to destroy?

Is there a clash of times?
Is there a clash of civilization?
Or is it just a clash among
Inhuman interests?

Is religion a craft, chiseled
Out of time’s cupboard
By men who can
Command men to die?

Or is religion an art
Taken out of Man’s
Inner soul
To help Man live
Ever after?

A fairy-tale existence trampled
By the power of Men
Desirous to subjugate
Civilization to the will
Of creatures masquerading
As Men, wise, powerful.

Is that what RELIGION
TODAY means?

Pranab Ghosh is an award-winning Indian journalist and writer, who has worked for major news outlets of the country, including HT Media Ltd., Eenadu Digital, TNIE, Business India group etc.. His books of poems have been published by English and Canadian publishers. Read other articles by Pranab.