The Sin Eater

It was after the funeral service

In the church at Calder Rise,

Hoping to catch a final glimpse

Of you, where your coffin lies,

I’d waited until the others left

And the church was quiet and still,

Then crept on round to the vestry door

And felt a sudden chill.

 

The coffin lay unattended on

The bier, by the font,

But someone was standing over it

Not someone that you’d want,

He raised the lid and he looked on down

Where you lay in your wedding dress,

Then reached on over your folded arms

And placed some bread on your breast.

 

He bowed his head and he muttered words

Of some Slavic, Eastern State,

I wanted to interrupt him, but

By then, it was too late,

He took the bread and he wolfed it down

And gagged on the slice of rye,

And as he did, your body heaved

In the coffin, and gave a sigh.

 

‘My God,’ I gasped, as I staggered in,

‘What awful thing have you done?

What spell could possibly interfere

With death, but an evil one?’

He turned to me, was taken aback

That I’d seen the thing he did,

‘Don’t mess with what you don’t understand,’

He said, then closed the lid.

 

He started to walk back up the aisle

But he choked, then doubled up,

He started having convulsions

Then his face became corrupt,

His brow was furrowed, his jaw was locked

With his mouth, an evil grin,

‘I’ve taken away her path to Hell,’

He groaned, ‘I’ve eaten her sin!’

 

While back on the bier the coffin lay,

Began to open its lid,

And you sat up in your shroud of death

And fluttered each dead eyelid,

You stared at me with a great intent

And muttered, with words like ice,

‘He’s eaten the sin of you and I,

So meet me in paradise!’

 

Your corpse collapsed on the coffin’s side,

Your arms were reaching for me,

I backed away in a panic then

And hid in the church vestry,

We’d lain together the month before

And the sin was deep in my heart,

The Sin-Eater was dead on the floor,

My guilt would tear me apart.

 

I knew I would have to cleanse my soul

If you were to meet with me,

Though you were headed for paradise

I didn’t know where I’d be,

I came again when the church was dark

And knelt, where the man was dead,

Crossed myself, and I laid it down

On his chest, a slice of bread.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Akshay Rawal]

Hello sir, I like this poem. It has the rhythm, which made me go on with the flow. Moreover in a philosophical sense, I think it shows the man's crave for meeting her if possible, and his vehement belief in the rituals. He was probably her husband, and that he ate the bread showed true love. Thanks for sharing, and since studies have made me busier, I hope you forgive any delay of mine in reviewing you.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A perfected flow that guides the eye, and a most screaming thought of death and those who control it, well done, good read.

[TPK Stories]

Another tragic tale...great storytelling...

[Tomás Ó C..]

Where did you get the concept of that one?? I never heard of it before! Rolicking read as always!

[Claire in VA]

Hi David. You were right; I did enjoy "The Sin Eater." Unlike the others, I had never heard of this practice. I give it an A+.
Fondly, Claire

[Avinash]

David, your storytelling mixes darkness with rhythm making it an unforgettable read.

[Lyn Anderson]

I love the ending. Very entertaining.

[Tate Morgan]

I am familiar with the cult idea of a the sin eater and Wonder at the simplicity of the idea.I wonder before Christianity if there was such an idea as sin?

[Marie]

This is a great story, as always. I know that sin-eating is an ancient tradition, and may be practiced in some cultures today.

I was surprised when I saw you title, because I published a story a few years back called "The Sin Eater."