Pagan

The society we have become is far more darker than any horror story. These inherent hatreds stem from a darker place in our history as human beings.

Pagan

(Inherent hatred)

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

The pyre burns in right of passage 

fueled by bone and flesh

A distant rumble omens storm

as Gods reveal unrest

The chants begin in murmured tone

as raindrops fall from sky

Their frenzied eyes gaze maniacally 

as ferver amplify...

Such wretched things are we

Duplicitous in faith and apostasy 

We drag our crosses amongst the ash

Naked on a ground of broken glass

bodies contorted like gnarled tree

wander aimlessly; in conformity

Bereft of sorrow; immoral eye

like waning moon in listless sky

Apparitions that wail in hymn 

Beg the sun to shine for them

For depraved Gods that they praised 

In the towers of Babel they have raised

As these tribal roots proliferate 

Within hateful seeds we propagate 

Author's Note

This poem can speak to many things that define us historically. It has many elements about it which it touches upon. Many influential to this day. The true horror story may be within the recesses of our own hearts and what we deny despite the truths we are faced with. Feel free to share your thoughts on feelings about how these words may resonate in your mind. CLE

Reviews

[Angelove]

Is like a spell in it own way, a spell that pulls you in. Great writing, can't wait to read more of your writing.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for your kind comment. I should advise that much of my writing can be somewhat melancholy and angst ridden. I'm manic depressive so it at times defines quite a bit of my work. And I really wouldn't want to ruin or bring sadness to your day. But thank you so very much for your kind words. And please keep writing your art and sharing it with all of us. CLE

[Angelove]

I can relate, I suffer with bipolar 2 disorder and pull from that. You as well my friend!

[Stanislav Volo]

nicely done
And the Great oceans of winds, and rivers of clouds, washing the shorelines, and mountain Peaks,
Embellishing the surface of Mother Earth;

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[Soren]

A sad commentary on humanity. Yes I believe that we create God in our own image and impart to this our own levels of brutality and cruelty. Maybe as time passes we all will evolve more compassion and understanding and less hate and blame. I loved the way the poem flowed and the imagery helped develop its power.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Soren for your thoughts. The metaphors are stark and provocative in this poem. Yet despite that I myself reserve to remain optimistic about the future. I refuse to believe that we can not learn, nor strive to be better human beings. As your poignant poem reveals it takes reflection and the need to be our better selves by rising above our faults and forgiving ourselves because of them. CLE

[Sean M. Addams]

Very thought provoking piece. Very deep message sad how the world can be. Overall I liked this alot

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Sean I appreciate the kind comment. It feels like the world is spiraling out of control most days. While people drone through it with indifference. There is an inherent danger allowing this to be the new normal. If we fail to speak out against it then in our silence we align ourselves with it. We can not allow a silent voice to become a complicit one. We change the world one heart at a time. CLE

[Neville]

some folk apparently enjoy the convenience, freedoms and power such blindness affords them .. Neville

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Absolutely true my wise friend. As I mentioned in a previous response below it is an absolute shame that the children of peace in the 60's are now the proliferators of hate in this new generation. Those whose parents fought for equity for all in society. And some who died for it. It is easier I guess to blame others for our problems than accept responsibility for our own bad choices in life. Thank you Neville for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Dave Brown]

it is difficult to believe that it just keeps on happening

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Unfortunately, it's a human trait, not for everyone, but for those of questionable character. Some propagate hate because it is a benefit to the socially. The feed upon the fears of others, for profit or for their own failures. It is easier to blame others for our own personal mistakes than ourselves. And some are just vile in believing their superiority over others. We see these things in the current situations we find ourselves here in the US. It is sad that we fought in the 60's for equity in society and a yearning to be better in our place in the world. The children of peace have become the proliferators of hate. And its continuation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me my friend.

[Robert Haigh]

Partisan and national fervour often leads to racism, as history has shown. Religion can divide and cause resentment, resulting in violence and bloodshed. What strange creatures we are! Why can't we be open-minded, and accept that different people believe different things? As the next generations become adults, brought up in a household of bigotry, the hatred does indeed become inherent!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Robert for your wise and thoughtful comment. Your words have eloquently captured the message of this poem. CLE

[John the Baptist]

A rather grim picture here, but of whom? The note indicates the poem speaks of many things that define us historically, but I'm not sure who "us" is. The last verse speaks of tribal roots, which may point to the polarity in this country currently. Perhaps the dark imagery in the preceding lines addresses the spiritual roots of the hatred we see so often in the news these days.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I have tried my best to leave it ambiguous so that perhaps the reader can find a correlation to something relevant to themselves or beliefs in this very dark piece. It is filled with stark metaphors that paint an almost Dante type hellscape. Could it be about consumerism, faith, nativism, political views, etc? Yes it could. But I feel it's up to the reader to decide in the end. Thank you JB for sharing your thoughts with me. CLE

[Betty Hermelee]

Carlos, I am a non-believer... but despite that... the truth is hard to swallow sometimes... it hurts our guts deep down inside, and we can hide from it...we deny truths because we don't believe in sin, God, the Towers of Babel, or or "dragging crosses corpses among the ash"....we deny to keep our emotional balance; or because we are in fear of the truth.
Nice for discussion!
Best, B

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I myself am agnostic and gave up on religion near the end of my teenage years. It just seemed to easily to remove personal responsibility of one's actions. When you know you can pray away the sin why bother stopping. Religion is a bane on humanity. My older brother who I love dearly was disowned by my parents as a teenager because he was gay. My mother years later would reconcile but still harbor such vile beliefs that despite her loving him he was still going to burn in hell. How is that acceptable in the context of love? My uncle who was a devout jehovah witness and served for many years as an elder in the faith was a pedophile. They are people and their ilk that are the corpses dragging crosses amongst the ashes of their morality. Who do not comprehend the hate Within their own souls and the havoc it has wrecked amongst the lives they have touched. They merely drone forward spouting prayer to alleviate their wickedness because they believe it Redeems their behavior. Atonement in words, not deed. I don't hate faith because at its heart it seeks inherent good as a message. But it has been the root of many evils in the world because it can be easily manipulated. As we here in the US see with many of the insurrectionists holding religious beliefs. I loathe to generalize these things but history has proven a case against them. I feel it's not so much the fear of the truth that drives it but their own self loathing which adds to it. It's how they see themselves. Faith is merely a mirror to them that speaks to an aspirational moral perfection they are unable to attain. It lies to them because not all the make up in the world will ever hide their hideous vile nature. Perhaps that is the fear of truth they dread the most. Thank you B for your thoughts and kind words.