The sacred daggers

Keeping them in in the darkest crypt
the guards stand on pain of death
the diamond handles refracted glint
the dogs bared teeth the growls stench

the populous gossip and women chatter
the high priest was called the gong was ready
the full moon rose and the stars all glitter
the torches were lit and the smoke laid heavy

and the open grave was robbed and ready
sack cloth and ashes covered all grey
the rituals of the gods anger to pleasure
the sacred daggers uncrossed today

the thunder rumbled the elders crippled
carried the blades with the boa constrictor
the goat was on stakes spreadeagled
they poked the snake with the fiery sticks

the priest chanting incantations
the glint of steel as he cut the flesh
catch the spray of bloods pulsations
the red mist of life near ebbed

and now came the cruel dissection
the tongue removed and tail cut off
all the crowd loved the action
but just the starter for the main course

the gong struck seven to ecstatic howls
the moon turned to a crescent
the deity eclipse its shaded cowl
rites to life against that accent

the virgin reveled on the altar
this was the time the human harvest
the cutting strokes that would not falter
her beauty s lights to quell the darkness

just one solitary tear
antelope horns blew in chorus
the privileged of sacrifice is near  
the blood and gore to make you nauseous

religion that said life's a gift
to give and take  as the gods see fit
the first cut that's the deepest
carved to deep for us to read