Kiira Jeffers

Early morn’, awake when her body says sleep.

Mom drives her and her siblings to the church.

Where they sit and learn how they are just sheep,

But they’ve already been saved, no need to lurch

To the floor to beg and plead for their life.

The man clothed in white speaks this, they all nod.

Smiling inward, knowing they won’t know strife.

And so they kneel on wood and pray to God,

But she can’t smile, she can’t bring herself to.

Gone are the days of uniforms and agreeing.

No longer can she follow a dead man’s word,

Not after learning about the church and all they do;

They who think themselves saved by believing.

She kneels, prays for this place to be more learned.