Sacrifice

May bush, May bush circle around,
ribbons, rushlights, shells abound.
Bells and sticks, the ancient dance,
paint your face, skip and prance.
To music made for plant and seed
played on drum and gut and reed.
Sip from cups of morning dew,
for youth and beauty born anew.
Ripe of breast and virgin fair,
Yellow May flowers in her hair.
Seasons come and seasons change,
but none are quite like spring’s Beltane.
Ready animals for sacrifice goat and pig and loyal mutt,
Bathed in oil, their throats to cut.
For if you wish to gain and prosper,
you must give willing to your master.
All that represents your wealth,
Heart’s desire, need and health.
So build the frame, weave, entwine,
in thine image so divine.
And make him tall, make him strong,
fill him up with those who’ve wronged.
Drive them in by whip and chain,
gag their mouths when they complain.
And speak the prayers, the holy words,
send on message with the birds.
To those on high who need to hear,
the time has come to dance and cheer.
So light the pyres one by one,
see them burning like the sun.
And hear their screeching harried screams,
Watched them boil from the seams.
The smell of wicker’s in the air,
sweat and meat and burning hair.
Ash and flame and smoke protect,
Now bound the embers don’t misstep.
The flesh, the blood, the life all gone,
consumed by flame for those beyond.
The Yeartide folk from behind the vale,
adorned in mystic fairy-mail.
And Forest-wose, the Heaven’s-men,
the Ground-dwellers and Water-kin.
And all who roam and range between,
Who lurk in realms by men unseen.
They need their feast of suckling pig,
Of wine poached pear and honeyed fig.
And warm spiced cider, mature cheese,
Well hung pheasant and ambrosial mead.
Once these offerings, rich indeed,
Have been made in ritual greed
Only then are gods appeased.