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Poetry – That’s what it’s all about

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That’s what it’s all about

You put your hat on

You take your hat off

Off on – off on

Easy to get wrong.

You do the hocus pocus

Wail and shout

And that’s what it’s all about.

Oh hokus pokus pokus

Oh hokus pokus pokus

Kneel down

Genuflect

Blah blah blah

Take your shoes off

Put your shoes on

Off on – off on

Easy to get wrong.

You do the hocus pocus

Wail and shout

And that’s what it’s all about.

Oh hokus pokus pokus

Oh hokus pokus pokus

Kneel down

Genuflect

Blah blah blah

You put your shawl on

You take your shawl off

Off on – off on

Easy to get wrong.

You do the hocus pocus

Wail and shout

And that’s what it’s all about.

Oh hokus pokus pokus

Oh hokus pokus hokus

Kneel down

Genuflect

Blah blah blah.

26.4.2017

That’s what it’s all about

Jerusalem – a cauldron of hate – as three different branches of the same religion vie for dominance. Synagogues built on top of the holiest temples. Crusader churches built on temples and synagogues. Everywhere desecration, disrespect and intolerance, intransigence and fanaticism as everyone becomes more extreme in costume, behaviour and attitude, clutching holy books, reciting text, praying and genuflecting, holy books stuck to their heads, shawls, beads, crosses and medieval costume.

In amongst it all is some great history, wonderful architecture and brilliant art as each religion strives to outdo the other and pours their resources into proving they are the best.

As I stepped from church to temple to synagogue I found myself putting hats, shoes and shawls on and off as each branch interpreted the word of their god in different ways. Yet it is the same god!

I found it bizarre.

As an antitheist I thought the fanaticism exemplified everything that is wrong with religion. I was particularly disgusted at the little kids being brought into the places as part of the indoctrination programme to produce the next generation of unreasonable devotees.

Is it all a wicked joke?

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