Altar of Stone

A. W. Nutter The lump grew larger in my throat As I stared down the darkened path The safety of home seemed remote Was I going to feel the elders wrath Two steps away from hell on earth Tempted to flee into the unknown Echoing screams haunted my birth Emitting from the altar of stone Wandering alone is a sinful violation Never should have left the encampment A blood sacrifice needed for atonement To purge the sin from the congregation Running steadily through the woods Had the priests noticed my absence Pulled from the path by men in hoods Paralyzed by their sudden appearance Clothing torn away by their rough hands Secured to the stone, they ring the bell Sheep following the religious commands Mindless fanatics, under the priests spell Eyes of the flock looking on in disgust Sentence passed, I'll be disemboweled The knife begins its downward thrust As I cry out for mercy from the crowd Blood sprays across my supine form As the priests head falls to the ground The executioner now dead and deformed My legs and arms were quickly unbound Harm this boy you will feel my blade An innocent child, you'll leave him alone Your King declares blood payment made Removing my sins, saving me from the stone