I visited a Christian shore town. ✝️🌊
I just wanted to relax—let my hair down,
To attune with the Spirit—
Breathe in Mary Jane’s breath,
Ascend to Psyche’s haven—
A heaven of holistic healing. ❤️🩹
Smoke was wildly whisping, 😚💨
Like incense, a priestly offering,
As I found myself vibing it—singing. 👩🎤
A psalmist singing God’s glory.
The Lord—my mortal’s heart inspiring,
Nay! Conspiring—
My heart overflowing with joy.
But wait. Oh boy. 😳
A lawman approached me— 👮♂️
Raptured, I unaware—
He could see I didn’t have a care. 🤷♂️
“Sir, that right there,
You cannot be out here doing.”
I looked at my joint, back up at him, 😚💨
“Why sir, this here is my medicine—
And I am just staying right over there”
Besides this is legal here.” ⚖️
Looking straightly, lawman smiled, 👮♂️
“You know what town you’re in?
Are you not from here, or around?”
This here is Christian ground ✝️
And people like it quiet 🤫
Here in this holy people’s town.”
Damn.
Sunday worship must be weird, ⛪️
No singing in the pews; 🚫🎶
Pantomime preaching,
Where silence is practiced— 🤫
Any offenders policed— 👮♂️
And praising ne’er appears, 🤦♂️
All, of course, in Jesus’ name. ✝️🙄
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
Originally published on tristanrobertlange.com, August 30, 2025.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: August 30th, 2025 07:46
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem was inspired by an encounter in Ocean Grove, NJ — a historic Methodist Camp Meeting town once filled with shouting Methodists, revival fire, and exuberant praise. The irony struck me: the same ground that once shook with holy noise and “shouting Methodists”, has become a place where silence is enforced and joy policed. Holy People’s Town wrestles with that clash, between living Spirit and lifeless piety.
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- Users favorite of this poem: Bella Shepard, Teddy.15, Salvia.S
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Comments8
Certainly not on my bucket 🪣 list 📝 to visit! So sorry you had to experience that though.
Why thank you, my friend. Ocean Grove is mostly a lovely little place — clean, pretty, even free parking (a Jersey miracle 🤣). But it’s got a long Methodist history, once full of rowdy “shouting Methodists,” now stiff as boards. So yeah…the irony of getting the cops called for singing in an old revival town where people stroll with beers wasn’t lost on me. Thankfully the officer and I had a laugh about it, and my medicine kept it all light. 😗💨 All good in the holy people’s town. 🤣🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛ Much appreciated, my friend!
Perhaps the law enforcer got enough of a whiff... a light buzz even.
Perhaps! I'm always around to help, ya know? 🤪
A most interesting change with time. Culture changes and with it laws and expectations. The peace and joy I had as a child I have to leave society for today and live a solitary life to enjoy. Nicely done Tristan
Soren, thank you, my friend. You’re right…time and culture do shift, and with them come laws and expectations that don’t always line up with joy or peace. I get that longing for solitude...sometimes it really is the only way to breathe freely. Grateful as always for your thoughtful presence here, my friend. 🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
You are most welcome Tristan
I was not aware of Holy People's Town, and googling its history was quite informative. First of all I love the presentation of this poem, the tiny graphics with each stanza add a powerful subtleness to the whole situation. It possesses a peaceful easy flow, and calls out the foolishness of inflexibility. Beautifully done!!
Bella, thank you, my friend. I’m glad you looked into the history...there’s quite a bit of irony woven into that place. Though I don't want to completely besmirch it. It is quite the lovely, quaint, Cape May-style, New Jersey beach town with very easy access to Asbury Park. Happy you felt the little graphics worked too…they were my way of adding just a touch of playfulness to the critique. Grateful for your thoughtful read and presence. 🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
I love a poem that just keeps on giving.
Welcome to reality. Some parts of the world aren't as "liberal" as the Chicago area is famed for being, and every man's style of worshipping his chosen deity isn't tolerated freely everywhere. This pretty number is very nearly a riot. Guess you weren't so much surprised as intent on ruffling feathers, were you?
Missy, your knack for divining personal threads between the lines always amazes me. As for me being surprised by faux-Christian piety, hypocrisy, and a hospitality so cold the Ice Queen herself might seek warmer climes? Hardly. I expect it at this point…and sometimes even look forward to the irony. 😏 What’s a legally prescribed medical-patient, music singing, poet to do—not vacation, I suppose. Land of the “free,” right? Thankfully New Jersey is one of the blessedly more liberal states, and the officer and I ended up sharing an eye-rolling laugh. No riot…just a near chuckle in the holy people’s town. Much appreciated, as always, my friend. 🖤🙏🕯️🤣
I knew a group devoted to Popeye. What were they devoted to? Don't answer that! lol.
Is that bait? Ask the b....no, don't do that! 🤣
Hahaha! Sounds like you had quite the experience!
Oh...quite! LOL! My own little "Footloose" in a town in America, land of the free, home of the joy-policed, right? 🙄🤣
Hahaha
Oh that old time religion....... I really don't know what to pray.... no I mean say.... or maybe... I don't. The variation in social norms and religious observance across America will forever confuse me.
In the meantime, there's no denying the entertainment I got from this yarn in your trademark inimitable style, Tristan.
💯 Yeah, we're a confusing lot religiously, no? 🤣 Glad that it delivered and you enjoyed, my dear friend! 🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Well you know me... Wouldn't be my cup of tea but an adventure in any case. lol 🌹
Yeah...while I think you would love to visit and shop, eat, see the beautiful Cape May aesthetic and beaches...something tells me you'd prefer to stay next door at Asbury Park and walk over for the look! Asbury Park is what makes staying here cool, because here you get quiet...but it is a very short walk to an awesome Jersey shore town with quite the night life...and it has the legendary Stone Pony concert venue (including an Summer Beach Stage) in it. So all and all, not too bad...but yeah, I hear very much hear you and concur! 🤣 Besides, as cool as the Jersey shore is...it's not Florence! #JustSaying. Anyway, Thank you, my dear friend. Glad you enjoyed my little "Footloose" poem! LOL! Heaven forbid anyone sing or dance...you know that's Biblical. 🙄🤣 🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
I imagine it's a fabulous place by the Jersey Shores, Florence is a city of renaissance hard to be anything but spectacular. ❤️
Oh, yes…for sure. I’ve been to many beach spots around the country, and Jersey really does have some outstanding ones. A lot of folks still picture the 70s and 80s—when NYC’s trash floated down—but that’s long gone. Down by Ocean Grove the water is clear, beautiful, and just right at around 72°F this past weekend. Not bad for the Atlantic! (Did they ever find Atlantis? 🤪)
But FLORENCE! Jersey isn’t offended…it knows. 🤣 And still...we’ve got Sinatra, Frankie Valli, the Boss, Whitney, and Bon Jovi. And quite a bit of Italian-heritage represented in that list too. Not quite a renaissance, but not a bad lineup either. 🤭 If you ever come to New Jersey, I think you’ll find plenty to love (and yes, a few things to grumble about). 🤣 Up in the Skylands, along the Appalachian Trail...that’s where I grew up. Truly breathtaking country and not far, relatively speaking, from anywhere one wants to go. Anywho, please apologize my home state babbling. I no longer liver and miss it...but thankfully, I only live an 1 hr 10 minutes from where I grew up. Certainly not the lengthy distance between London and Florence. 🌹
I've got sting just up the road! 🤣
🤣
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