old time religion

the tough part
about religion is that they
make you work
so hard
to be a part of it.
the kneeling
the praying, the getting
dressed
and leaving the house
to get where they
want you to go.
and be on time.
there's a lot to learn too.
the prayers.
when to stand,
when to kneel, when to thump
your chest
or sing.
sometimes you feel like a monkey
on a string.
you used to know all of this,
back when
the church was
in Latin
and they burned incense
all day
making you dizzy, but now,
as the years have passed
and they started
playing guitars
and dancing in church,
you feel clueless.