i cannot recall
the ride
from the city
the cold water
around my feet
and
rushing through
my lungs
seems
so
comforting
unholy water
washing away
my fears
a baptism
of human lust
has brought
me here
to drink
from this chalice
of unfulfilled
childhood dreams
a chalice
brought to my lips
on the blade
of a spear
thrust into my side
by
someone
who did not
even know
my name
it is so very simple
tell them that
their
god
has chosen you
to provide the way
to salvation
never mind
that the price has
already been paid
those with guilt
great or small
will do anything
to relieve it
even if logic
tells them the opposite
of what you are saying
just say it like
you
believe it
and
they will follow
lambs following the bell
on a road that has no end
an imaginary cobblestoned path
of lies
used to free them
of the fear of their real lives
as well as
whatever wealth they might have
leaving them destitute
and broken
along this dusty road
of faith
when souls
are parched
their thirst
can be easily
be quenched
by the devil’s chalice
of acrid faith
so that they
will forsake
the truth
and so it was
on the fifth day
of satan
River Urke and I have entered into a duel poetry challenge and this is the resulting poem. Duel Poetry: a prearranged poetry writing challenge between two people to evolve a new poem where each writer must respond to the other writer’s lines (4 -5 ) until both parties agree that the poem is complete.
Tam O'Shanter and the Witches by Artist John Faed (1892)
Read Between the Minds 