they told me
christianity was a light
but the fire they lit
burned deeper than love
hell became
the weapon they forged
a place for sinners
a cage for the soul
the bible spoke
of peace and mercy
but all i felt
was fear of the flames
they said it
was salvation’s promise
but i wondered
who needed saving most
from the god
they made in their image
who smiled over
his kingdom of ash
better still
than the darkness they claimed
were the pages
heavy with terror and guilt