Heads topple from the platform
Roll down the stairs
That climb up to god’s throne
Hearts pulled still beating
From the living chest
Sacrificed to the great leader
Or the god of bounty
Good for the crops
Pyramids of body bags pile up
Flown home wrapped in flags
Stacked up against walls
Of power for power’s sake
(The gods of progress must be appeased)
Please accept this sacrifice
Oh lord
Your son crucified for you
To pay for our sins
Sins that you created
To be acted out like a play
In the hall of mirrors that is your fallen Eden
Sins so deemed now damn us, your creatures
In your sadistic game of promises
Promises of some hidden heaven
Of some ephemeral eternal life
Promises that can’t be kept
The sacrifice cleanses
The blood nourishes the vampire
Of power
While promising eternal life
Through death
Making the people proud
Of the sacrifice of their son their daughter
Sacrificed in their prime
For the rest of us
So we can just watch in relief
As more heads roll bouncing
Down the cold stone steps
Ours on our shoulders for the moment