The Comforts Of The Night

Saint Augustine prayed nightly to be freed
of 'the glue of lust', or nocturnal emissions.
He did not even pray for a person
to be glued to, in affirming companionship.
His prayers were answered
by his coming to believe that since
he could not control his emissions
the way he controlled his prayers,
by intent, his ejaculations were not sin,
and his prayers were aspirations to absolute celibacy.
aspirations which were far as beyond him
as grace was beyond human virtue.

As an everyday wanker I would say
to my maker of the nightly emanations
that haunt my imagination
'Thank you for them being where they are,
in my head, and for the grace of what I see
not being real, nor in front of me wanting
breakfast in the morning. Amen'.
I admit I feel uneasy about cohabiting.

The nightly emanations I trust the most
are from the BBC, World Service Radio
telling me things that I did not know,
that when I wake up I won't remember.

Mae West

said 'Too much of a good thing is wonderful'.
If only Christians could show  a similar
brio and self belief to the world about
the inexhaustible riches of Heaven....

The Young Woody Allen

was asked 'Is sex dirty?'
after trying to look sheepish
he replied 'Yeah, if it is good'.

I admire religions of dirt,
where the faith is brewed
in secret, like poitin,
and it renews in the imbiber
equal measures of mirth,
melancholy and passion.

An Agnostic Writes...

In my first language, English,
I am secure, I understand and talk
with equal assuredness, I even swear.

In all other tongues, like those of angels
and prayer, my words will falter,
but my thanks are sincere.

Addressing so certain and unknown
a cause as the intelligent nature
of the world surely requires humility.