On Easter I Am Sinning

The following poem is written by Chicago-based artist Casey Cereceda. Along with writing poetry he is also the artist behind The Epiphany. 

“I wrote this as a pretty jaded retail worker around Easter last year. In retrospect it feels a little condescending to people just going about their lives assuming they don’t know about heavy stuff going on, but I also wouldn’t put it past those customers. I think I was writing out my frustrations of having to go in and run around for people who didn’t care about me or my well-being while I was constantly rattled by current events. Things felt very turbulent around holy week and I was very tense about having to go in to work.”

I used to stare at the clouds in the marble
At the panels of glass that depicted the saints and the apostles

Outside a church in Miami is a statue of St. Michael
My father told me he protects us by stepping on the devil’s head
Michael’s foot pushed down on the devil’s skull intending to crush it
Violence is necessary in resistance to evil

I was baptized
I confessed to the priest
I worried about dying as a kid
I worried about burning in Hell or getting sick of Heaven

I took communion
I was confirmed
A few people in my life died
Gradually I stopped believing

I would become flushed with anger
When people said they were praying for me
But I understand now

My loved ones continue to believe
They practice in their own ways
Some go to church
Some light candles at home

I got a fish sandwich from McDonald’s on Good Friday
Families who have good jobs come to the store because they are off work
The turbulence of our day is an afterthought to lattes and self-help books
People were shot in a Subway station in New York
The most moral army in the world fills Al Aqsa with tear gas
Masses are held in Ukrainian ruins

On Easter I am helping men find books about playing with money on the computer
I am helping men find books about how they can overcome their shortcomings
By further isolating themselves
I am helping men find books about how they can seduce whoever they want
By breathing louder and becoming serial manipulators

On Easter I am sinning because I am not home resting
Because I am far from my family
Because I am helping my employer make money
Fulfilling the unholy needs of unholy people
On the day a man was resurrected from being murdered by the state

To learn more about Casey’s work you can follow him on instagram @the__epiphany and stream The Epiphany on all streaming platforms. 

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