In the Time of Baal---a heavy piece

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Open Poetry #12

In the Time of Baal---a heavy piece

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

0 posted 2001-02-14 02:45 AM

In the Time of Baal
Virginia Salter

In the time of Baal
as if it were the distant past
an infant
was sacrificed
to make fertile
land and people

concern for crops
and
wealth
brought tongues of fire
upon the stone
at pagan god’s feet

hotter, hotter
grew the flames
and the arms of Baal-
the chosen one
was lifted up

wailing,
its flesh
placed into
appendages
of red hot stone,
above violent flames,
as celebrants
regaled
the fertile gifts
that would ensue
from this sacrificial act

what other choice
could there have been,
for crops
must be sufficient
despite the cost
of a human life,
for
it was a child
having
done nothing
to earn its keep

© August 13, 2000

(Baal, a fertility god. Christ referred to him as Beelzebub, Satan.)

Kethry
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-29

Posts 9082
Victoria Australia

1 posted 2001-02-14 08:47 AM

Virginia,
you are right, it was heavy going and the images were horrifying but it was well written and I thank you for that.
Kethry

Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life. Patty Hansen.

kcsgrandma
Senior Member

since 2000-09-24

Posts 1522
Presque Isle, ME

2 posted 2001-02-14 10:55 PM

This is tough reading, Virginia, but certainly worthy of more attention than it has had so far. It was a difficult subject to write about, and you have done so very vividly. Thanks for having the courage to share it.

To love another person is to see the face of God.
- Les Miserables

Marilyn

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