Be Joyous 30.08.2009 Poem by Margaret Alice

As a child I tried Fundamentalism to replace the
lack of miracles in our brand of Protestantism
impressed by Revelations’ expectation of Arma-
geddon, using toothache to prepare for the
persecution of believers

Suffering torture in silence, when pain became
unbearable I could not be a martyr for God, my
endurance used up my powers, I could not sing
God’s praises in prison as Paul did, I confessed
the pain to my parents

Discovering hedonism, happiness and fun are
more important than suffering for a good cause
today I refuse all irrational suffering, enjoying the
fun of creative freedom, I am impervious to the
ethical imperative of sacrifice

My attempts to follow this moral dictum proved it
unnatural, believing we are born with a flawed human
nature convicts everybody to eternal damnation, living
life on this premise creates hell on earth, rejecting the
idea we were born to suffer

We are free to choose the exciting pain of intrigue or
the sweet joy of golden happiness, I always prefer
bright opportunities to be joyous...