Spiritual Lockups Poem by Buxton Shippy

Living in the shadows
Listening to the daily rants,
The blatant condemnations.
Being kept in the closets
Without ventilation.

Then, you would be stoned,
Receiving death:
A lesser penalty.
Now, you are confined
To the spiritual lockups,
Cause you dare
To be different:
With a sexual orientation
You did not conceived.
Dare to be different:
The way you speak.
Dare to be different:
By what you wear.
Dare to be different:
In your mannerisms.
Dare to be different:
Cause you are different.

Let them go ahead and hang you,
If they are without sins.
Let them laugh,
At your tears.
Let them sit in the pews,
And scorn you;
Thank God
Jesus is a friend of sinners.
JAH!