My church closed for lent;
it had to rest from the sinners
who went to refuse to repent.
They stopped giving their money
whilst showing off to each other
over tea, after every service.
I was more engaged with personal change
I felt apart when we said the liturgy.
I sang the hymns like everyone else
but with my voice like a corncrake
my silence, or even better absence,
would have made other folk safer.
I was just too bad at showing off,
I missed the friendliness of the vicar,
who when he was not wearing his surplice,
in just his God-collar, was rather nice.
As I observed the absurdity
of other people's behaviour
I saw that accepting myself
as being different to others
was as near to salvation
as I was likely to get.
