Altar

In Hebrews we read
how Christ superseded old
ways, and someone told
me I shouldn't
pay a dime to restore the temple.

I have seen, too
men arguing over curling red
party decorations, lovers crying
alone in dark parking
lots, a friend
who always wins.

And I think bleeding
bulls and goats might know
something that we don't.




Critiques welcome. Come one, come all.

It was shit.


Just kidding.

The last paragraph hit me... hard! One question :
"lovers crying
alone in dark parking
lots, a friend
who always wins."

Who's the friend?

Merely a reference to those people who feel it is their calling to win every argument regardless of the effect on others or, for that matter, how correct they themselves happen to be.

Hhmm... and these people happen to be people around us?! I mean, I certainly do remember some like them...

Ok critique (and only because you insisted) :
I have seen, too

I didn't get that. I mean, comma and then a 'too'...

And then I presume that "hebrews" is the 'Old Testament'?

'I have seen, too' with 'too' as an interjected phrase, meaning also. It's pure grammar. There should also be a comma after 'too' but I didn't put one there because I didn't like what it did with the line break and I figured the break would provide enough of a comma in itself.

Hebrews is the book 'Hebrews' in the New Testament. Comes between Philemon and James. The book of Hebrews discusses at length Jesus' superseding of Old Testament traditions, including blood sacrifices (which is why Christians don't sacrifice bulls and goats at an altar each year to justify themselves to God). The point of the poem is that it seems that this has created a mindset in Western thought (being, at heart, Christian-based) which feels no need for sacrifices in any instance, not just religious. I see this as a problem. Hence, poem.

So you advocate sacrifices? (Obviously not animal ones!) You say that sacrifice is needed?!

In the sense that things work better when people aren't selfish 100% of the time, yes. There are times when one must be willing to give something up for various reasons. In my thinking, at least, the world would be a much better place if everyone weren't so gung-ho about getting things their way every single time.

I get it now... The hebrews thingie sent me for a toss

Self-explication is fun.

Yes. Especially when it is being done by ...er... never mind!

So do you like it, or what?

Well, I need time. I just can't 'like' things instantly you know. I sort of read things.. read 'em again and well, sort of grow into 'em. Can't tell you now, sorry!