Religion On the Plains

by sibyllene   Feb 14, 2008


I figure near the equator,
in that sticky delirious
throbbing heat, it's easy to imagine
gods that come in the night
as physical hairy bodies
with heads of twisted lions or randy goats
dressed in sumptuous fabric and fur, they come
(there is still warmth from last day's sun)
to mingle, slick and close
with their drunken
hosts. The spirit is green and dark and hot,
tied up to the body.

Secede, many many degrees.
Brutal blank cold. There is space, white and blunt-
pure terrifying dead empty flat.
Here there is no
hot wet pleasure
there is no pleasure at all, there is
the sadistic omnipresence
of the wind, flaying flesh from bone
there is ice that seeps beneath your skin and lodges there
feeling like the blinding pressure behind your eyes
when you presume to challenge the cold sun. It drains away life
stealthily but constantly, and we are punctured, doomed
skins of wine.
(here the spirit is red frozen blood, dagger sharp white)
There are no anthropomorphic beings
there are no co-mingling spirits
there is no afterlife no trust no God
there is only you, and your small frozen life
there is only you, and your vast inescapable death
there is only you
locked in a boundless expanse of slicing apathetic
cold
void.
May this be ecstasy.

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Latest Comments

  • 15 years ago

    by Sungrl And Mrs Whatsit

    ..across the universe we pray......yes we do...'-)
    This piece is thought-provoking....and fascinating..
    ********************************************

    and, here and now, too, must, conspicuously, be kept warm, lest we regress in even more ways than imaginitively....
    equilibrium is a mighty goal....
    strive on..

  • 15 years ago

    by Nicko

    From the warmth of the tropics to the depths of the artic what a delectable journey you have taken us on, to leave us pondering

    Sublime job

    Nicko

  • 16 years ago

    by Jordan

    I thoroughly enjoyed this poem - the style is very up my alleyway. :) The voice is excellent, and the word choice beautiful....you made me think of the ice castle from The Chronicles of Narnia. My only problem was in the end. I do realize that a lot of my poems end abruptly, yes...but I found this one to end a bit TOO abruptly. Buuuuuut good all in all! I'd definitely give it a 5 if I were to vote.

  • 16 years ago

    by Michelle

    Wow, very powerful.
    Your words were very strong, and dark. It gave me the image of what hell would be (was this your intention?) your imagery was was vivid and impressionable. I loved your references to mythical creatures, and my favorite lines, "there is no pleasure at all...
    of the wind, flaying flesh from bone"
    were turbulent and beautiful at the same time. Good read

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