As Chosen People Poem by Barney Rooney

I've known chosen people
having been born to them
grafted onto the faith within the very womb
issued onto the earth to melt into the nation
gathered my markings until fully clothed
in all its affectations
bound to the faith

family and fore names
sacred days and holy ways
the lilt of the tongue
the cut of the cloth
the tilt of the walk
proud little pockets amongst the others
gathering within solid walls for rousing words
preachers turning old tales into law
to bind us to the faith

I followed the path laid by the fathers
though they said they'd only lay where led
through the centuries of truths
poring over marks in dusty books
scoured through secreted manuscripts
exhumed from deep dark nooks
splicing each moment in splintered time
into the eternity of our covenant
to bind us to the faith

in the space allowed for questions
I considered those who read the bones
divined the intestines
interpreted the testaments
knew to tell us when and what to eat
where to build our walls to prosper within
how to break the heart of those without
how to tame the sin of doubt
to bind us to the faith

as chosen people
we shaped our god well
to light our mission through
the myths of old heroes who'd
left a trail of blood
seeping into our roots
way down deeper than faith dare delve
too deep to light the marks that tell
we who choose to be chosen
are but chosen by ourselves