Sacrifice by Ken Greenley

detail of Le sacrifice d’Isaac – by Caravage

SACRIFICE

Look how far
The concept of sacrifice
has devolved
In our modern society.

Used to be
Sacrifice
was something that had to be done
to keep the sun coming up
the weather going right
the streams flowing
the crops growing
Sacrifice
Something you just didn’t skip;
Ancient requirement.
At least a portion of crop
given up,
Many times animals
Sometimes even ourselves
Our own blood spilled
to appease the Gods of antiquity.

As time went by,
parts of it fell out of favor
First the human,
then the animal
New currencies used;
Coins tossed into a basket
alms for the poor given
The concept slowly dwindling
to a grudging hour
spent in a church pew on Sundaes;
A rushed grace
muttered over Thanksgiving dinner.

Nowadays sacrifice
A distant spot
Seen over our shoulder
Far back on the road.
One has to look far and wide
for any sign of it
In today’s
Me-first
outta my way
Gimme that
thousand toy
24-7 Big Sale
Modern world.
Sacrifice hardly ever done,
almost extinct now;
We’ve sacrificed
Sacrifice.

Ken Greenley February 4, 1958 – February 12, 2020 was a writer who lived in Denver, Colorado. The number of places he’s lived is only exceeded by the number of job’s he’s had. Greenley liked to explore the themes of class division (in a supposedly classless country), the struggle to stay spiritual in the modern world, and the growth episodes that occur in childhood. He thought art, particularly writing, should combat media brainwashing, and should examine the clash between what we’re told and what really happens. He tried to make his material as funny as possible, because he found it hard to make modern life seriously, and considered it his mission “to make people laugh and think at the same time.”

Much more on Ken Greenley can be found by clicking here… and here…

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