No Progress Poem by Mary Champion

I'm stuck here in the seasons that circle endlessly.
I worship woods and rivers and dress up like a tree.
I'm not too keen on Science; prefer my magick spells.
I offer stuff to deities in springs and sacred wells.
I know that there's a Goddess, and I know she has a son,
or maybe he's her lover - I'm never sure which one.
My God dies in the winter and rises in the spring.
That's why the plants keep growing and little birdies sing.
I worship Mother Nature and revere her planet Earth.
I gaze up at the sun and stars and chant for all I'm worth.

I take a trip to Salisbury Plain when solstices come round
and there I dance in spirals upon the sacred ground.
My best friend is a druid and I'm in a coven too.
I hope to be a shaman when I've got my NVQ.
I'm a Wiccan, I'm a Pagan and I love to Morris dance,
I'll even do it naked if I'm given half a chance.
I've heard that there are orgies, but I really can't say where,
cos I've never been invited, and I find that most unfair.
I'm scared about the future; it was nicer in the past
So I cycle with the seasons and I'm getting nowhere fast.

…

In the'ry I'm progressive; I believe there is a plan -
a purpose in creation that culminates in Man.
I know I should be striving towards a better state.
But when will I achieve it? Maybe never at this rate.
I stick with ancient scriptures recycled from the pew.
I act out silly rituals, just like the pagans do.
I get extremely flustered if change invades my scheme,
cos I fell out with Science when it left the age of steam.
My deity's a father - seems I didn't have a Mum.
I'm waiting for a saviour but he never seems to come.

In homage to the pagan heart that still beats strong in me
I took the God that promised life and nailed him to a tree.
My God dies on Good Friday and rises in three days.
That's faster than the pagan guy - well so the Bible says.
Each week I eat his body and drink his blood as well.
Not sure why he decreed that, but it keeps me out of Hell.
I've heard that there's a Kingdom where there will be no sin,
but I don't know how to get there or if they'll let me in.
I'm worried for my future so I cling on to the past,
recycle ancient scriptures so I'm getting nowhere fast.

…

I got bored with religion and that spooky spirit stuff,
the reasoning was suspect and it didn't pay enough.
I put my faith in markets and consuming lots of things-
like Hermes bags, designer clothes, fast cars and di'mond rings.
The Golden God I worship will be born when payday comes
or when another credit card helps me defy the sums.
I will keep on spending money just as if it grew on trees
for mine's a God who snuffs it when my overdraft decrees.
I own so much, but even so, the pleasure does not last.
I owe so much it scares me stiff, and I'm getting nowhere fast.

…

Now me, I couldn't take it - all the waffle and the spin.
the rituals are rubbish and the chanting is a din.
I threw out all the scriptures, and the rules that caused offence.
I set out unencumbered determined to make sense.
I found a lot of answers but I hid them all away,
cos no one showed an int'rest in the things I had to say.
I think I understand it; well I get the general drift.
I wish I could explain it all and give their hopes a lift.
The future looks exciting now I've made sense of the past,
but I don't know how to share it, so I'm getting nowhere fast.

…