Sestina for the Pastor

She holds warm words of religion
in her hands. Struggling with the facade
designed as a mask to cover mass corruption.
The lost girl screams out with hope
never questioning the men in power
who offer to relieve and absolve her of her sin.

A heavy cross of burden, crafted from sin,
acts as a ball and chain to the religion
she now seeks. Faith is the highest power
they say, fueling the burning facade
they sit upon. Feasting on false hope;
the very thing that founds their corruption.

The blind lead the blind in spiral of corruption.
Her freedom has been stolen, held captive by her sin.
Through the iron pews she seeks promised hope,
waiting to be  rescued by the man-made religion.
In desperation she wonders if it is a facade, 
only to learn that disbelief is quelled by power.

Kind eyes and gentle hands hide greedy faces of power
that use the despair and tumult of others to birth corruption.
She eyes the rows of people held fast by the facade
which was created by a veil of fear, meant to deter sin
and instill control. No one questions the institute of religion
for their deep lust for happiness binds them to hope.

Bitterness stems in her heart as the hope
she has been so promised by those in power
is replaced by terror of divine retribution, preached by religion.
Such twisting of a soul is sickening corruption,
and should be regarded as the highest sin.
Her smile covers her conflicted mind, the girl has become a walking facade.

She looks for answers in the church walls; such beautiful facades
for something so cruel. There is no longer hope,
merely an avoidance of what she now knows as sin,
hoping she can be a good person. The power
hungry thump their bibles, denying corruption,
while they replace faith in divinity with devotion to religion.

Telling people that religion is the root of all hope
is simply a facade to grow unimaginable power
as a cover for corruption and sin.