I tried to talk to you about belief--
felt it strong in you
faith built on faith
like stone on stone.
I couldn't find a gate within that wall,
no cracks, no weaknesses,
not even handholds.
I couldn't explain.
So serene, so secure,
you could not conceive of doubt.
You took me to your temple
and we stood together
chanted some ancient spell.
I ran all the words together
in a singsong child's voice,
let the alien sounds
flow past my tongue like water.
The congregation sang a river around me
and I faltered, not sure how to swim.
The current tugged at me,
urged me to trust, to drift.
I held my breath
and turned to fight my way upstream.