Desert Dweller

All narratives are lies.

Something can be made sacred

by the attention we grant it.

That is why I ignore the gods

and focus on nature.

I thought I loved god.

After all, for as long as I remember, 

his ‘love’ was crammed down my throat 

if I didn’t love him, there was hell to pay.

He was the all-seeing, all-knowing ruler,

always speaking indirectly 

through family, teachers, and clergy,

like a coward, never showing his face,

never speaking directly to me.

Indirectly he taught me to fear.

He taught me that I am sin.

that I must confess and do penance.

I learned to mimic, to pretend,

never to question, to acquiesce—

or suffer consequences.

Priests told me,

but never showed me how good he is,

nuns demonstrated his evils.

Never question.

Agree and regurgitate or be punished

in the name of discipline.

‘For your own good.”

I loved god until I didn’t, 

then I forgot him until I didn’t.

I searched for him,

and thought I had rediscovered him once

hiding under a rock.

I tried to reacquaint myself

by reading the Bible

but instead learned to hate him

because he’s an ass, an egomaniac, 

a narcissist, a warmonger, a 

wolf in sheep’s attire.

Sorry wolves, no disrespect intended.

I tried to forget him but couldn’t. 

I felt only anger, hate

and those other things he taught me:

bigotry, violence, authoritarianism.

At some point, I realized

I had to do some unlearning.

I became inspired,

no floods, plagues,

burning bushes or flaming swords, 

but a simple realization—

god is an invention.

A scary story told by firelight.

He doesn’t exist except as tall tales,

fables, parables, and myths. 

Fantasies retold by the thoughtless 

to the unthinking

Now, no longer a believer 

I love nature—

trees, rocks, butterflies, cats,

I love art, music, literature, poetry.

I’m still a little distrustful of humans

How can you love a person?

How do you trust that they love you?

Misfits, outcasts, crazed bohemians

who break rules and don’t go to work

seem to be safest.

Now, I am grateful. I don’t fear anymore.

Through experience I learned that

if there is no god, there is no judgement,

no damnation, no fire in hell.

Without god there is nothing to fear.

© 2026 Bruno Talerico

227/365