I left upstairs, in my room

The red-backed bible of my graduation.

I never take it with me,

Nor have I read its pages

In years.

In years I've not felt the urge to pray.

That's not who I am

(As I so frequently

Feel the need

To tell anyone within earshot).

No, I never pray.

I did, though,

When I was young,

And the words fell out of my mouth

Although I can't say that even then

I thought that anyone

Was listening.

Such silly words

So carefully printed in my red-backed bible.

And I feel no need to believe

When I read them

(And so I read them

Far less often than I

Should do).