The Trade

The Trade
by JB Lacaden

Hundreds of burning eyes
Pierce through me like
Spears set aflame.
Hundreds of pointing fingers
Blame me, for the
Failure that I am.

Hundreds of hurting words
Were thrown at me like
Stones willing to break the soul
Hundreds of hands grab me,
Tearing away my skin,
Leaving me naked, exposing my all.

I stayed in a corner,
Curled up and scared.
I could see their faces surrounding
Me. I stayed in my corner,
Eyes closed, afraid. It was maddening.

They picked me up
With their blood, stained hands.
They blame me for their faults.
They carried me to the altar.
I was the sacrifice for their faults.

My hands were bound by
Tight ropes, so were my legs.
My eyes remained closed.
I don't want to see their faces,
And the huge, pillar of smoke that rose.

They stood there
Surrounding me.
I tried to calm myself; I didn't want to see....
I recited the alphabets backward, silently.
They took the torch and lit me up, Z, Y, X, W, V...

I could smell the burning of flesh.
I could hear their laughter, their victory.
They were forgiven.
I could hear my voice, screaming from the pain.
But they were forgiven.