The modern-day stocks 
in which I find myself
are much more subtle 
and disturbing 
to me
than being publicly flogged and humiliated.

These stocks shame me
silently, 
in the look you give 
when I question the “experts”
or the way you 
walk away, shaking your head
when I tell you
I trust God
more than those “experts.” 

There is a part of me that wishes
you would just lock the wood around
my wrists and my ankles
and allow me to rot in the center of town.

I’m sure we’d both agree – 
that would be more forthright
than any “discourse” we’ve been having.