Confessions Of A Pretend Preacher Poem by David Harris

Being a pretend preacher
is almost like being the real thing.
People come to me in times of trouble
and who am I to turn them away.
I cannot and never will do
for reasons I cannot explain.
I hear their confession readily
an even relate to some.
I try to help wherever I can
with words that I can give.
Sometimes what you hear
can take its toll on you.
You never admit it though,
but keep on trying to help
wherever help is needed.
There are times you hear something
and it plays on your mind
over and over again
that you feel you will burst.
You never betray a confidence
of whom the incident is about.
Like a real priest’s rule of silence,
you obey it to the letter,
only telling the story
with no names attached
and after you have told it.
It exorcises if from your mind
and you can move on
to the next one who needs help.
My door is always open to help anyone.
I will never turn away anyone
who needs help from me.
I guess the role of a pretend preacher
really does suit me;
either that or I have grown into the part I play.
It doesn‘t stop my own heartaches of which I rarely tell.
The sadness that sometimes eats away at me.
However, you will never see it
behind my smiling face;
because that is the way,
I just want it to be.

4 October 2008.