Church 

CHURCH

Sunk into a concrete frame
shortly after I was born
raised on an icy estate
somewhere, in another age

where I grew up, just churches
and megalithic tombs
pagan remainders
of a long-forgotten race

the pagan too strong to break
the catholic too inbred to dismiss
zealous fights with disbelievers
- teachers eager to join in

and the monk taught me:
jesus did not die for you
do not believe in salvation
believe only in yourself.

© Bart FM Droog, 1998
© translation Willem Groenewegen, 1998
original title: Kerk, from Deze dagen, Passage Publishing Company, Groningen, 1998
Translation previously published in Definitely, Rottend Staal, Groningen, 1998.