the ordeal

there was a time

back when people believed that dragons

roamed the country side,

back when kids were scared of the

trolls in the forest,

back when the world was flat &

everything in the sky revolved around this

big rock,

where the cauldron of water was set over a

fire &

a small stone was thrown inside---

as the water boiled,

bubbling hot & spitting,

you would be made to stuff your bare arm down

inside,

in the attempt that you might find the

stone &

you would be forced by those behind you

to stay in the cauldron

until your boiling flesh did

grasp the small stone &

pull it out, flailing in violent,

unimaginable pain.

 

after a few days,

a priest would come to check out the arm,

making the “holy” decision

that if it was healing

you were innocent of whatever bogus crime

you’d been accused of &

if it wasn’t,

then because said sanctified pederast said so,

you would undergo an even harsher

punishment.

 

ah yes, that “ultimate justice”

that once came with organized

religion.