So Much Like ...
© Laura Craig Mason 2002


Like those ‘renewed  virgins’
hiding from
salacious sinful scenarios
I’m avoiding the kitchen
and coworkers
in an attempt to abstain
from food.
A little fasting never hurt anyone.
A little remembrance of the
10 year old me
staring at the food stamp kids
with their state sanctioned cafeteria lunches
while just above the poverty line me
ate baking raisins
because it was all that was left
in our bare pantry.

Like the pious preachers
bent on sending me
to hell
to jail
or better yet
to some reprogramming camp
I’m devout
in my search of spirit.
I am sincere on all of the holidays,
both solar
and lunar
I honor the divine.

So much like the younger me
questioning nuns
reading LeVey,
attending Baptist revivals
scanning the church bulletin
for meaning
I’m still searching 
for the cosmic connect.

Like some Euro electrical outlet
I know my explanations
of angels and saviors and survivors 
won’t work over here;
won’t adapt with most folks,
but I keep trying anyway.

Like those ‘renewed virgins’
I have a lot of hope
for better times
and people
who’ll really understand
that it’s not labels that carry weight
but our connect
with what is larger 
than all of us.