1971
Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri
Evaluation of the Sacrifice
Beat so solid drum Beat hard never lessen Beat tough Beat unceasingly Beat unbearably So solid drum Stretched so tight the skin Of the slain impala Reverberating the beat 1ST SINGER Girl brought in wearing loincloth and a scowl. Carried from the temple where the blessings cured the foul. CHORUS Beat so solid drum Let the rhythm come Beat on drum 2ND SINGER Friends of all the world unite. Troubles come to an end tonight,. By stopping one we'll set it right. And beat on drum, beat on. CHORUS Beat so solid drum Let the rhythm come Beat on drum CHORAGOS And step lightly upon the ground There's a light up in the temple Let the call go all around There's a light up in the temple CHORUS Beat so solid drum, beat on CHORAGOS And let the beauty seep through again The sacrifice will cleanse her soul Listen to the crackling fire and the roaring wind The sacrifice will cleanse her soul 1ST SINGER Hail, praise to God, come claim your child. CHORUS Beat so solid drum, beat on. 1ST SINGER And sinner, let the tame breed wild CHORUS' Beat on drum Beat on drum CHORAGOS Girl the fairest, chose to die With the end of lust her soul shall fly She will raise her feet to the rhythm of the drum And summon the devil to her, that he may come Lift the leg, circle round the fire Soften her body as limber as a wire Dancers cross her life with good Circle making motions as you should Motions to help her, motions to calm Motions with the head and neck, motions with the arm Girl of smooth skin, girl of grace Dance from the pyramid top to its base Dance till the mind is enraptured with the beat Dance till your mind is gone, rhythm moves the feet Dance with naked truth in order to summon love Dance for the spirit in the clouds above Dance while they go, dance while they come Dance to the rhythm of the never-ending drum. CHORUS Beat on drum beat on drum Beat on drum beat on drum 1ST SINGER Moving round the crackling fire The executioner stalks Round and round the crackling fire Silently he walks 2ND SINGER Quiet comes except the drums Hunter crawls, lights glitter on the walls Up the platform slides the prey Hunter slowly makes his way CHORUS Beat so solid drum Let the rhythm come Beat on drum CHORAGOS Ever so slowly move Girl arches her back Ever so slowly move Hunter's eyes are black Stop the hate in all men's souls Stop the lust and greed Stop the horror and hubris deep That upon all men feed Stop it with the flash of knife Steel glints bright with right Stop it all just take one life Withall perfect beauty shall we smite CHORUS Beat so solid drum, beat on CHORAGOS Chant the words of peace and love CHORUS Oh one God of serenity We pray to you for help Come guide this sword So gracefully Make the stride strong The flash quick The cut deep The death a revelation. 1ST SINGER Arch is bent, girl posed for end The sacrifice is staunch withall She grimly bears the face of death For the executioner hears his call CHORUS Guide this sword, come guide this sword 1ST SINGER Beat on drum, beat on, beat on 2ND SINGER Slayer of the sin of man Moves with embodied form to the altar Where his work will be carried out CHORUS Guide this sword, come guide this sword CHORAGOS The hand of faith removes from the scabard CHORUS Guide this sword, come guide this sword CHORAGOS The instrument of wholesome love CHORUS Guide this sword to the rhythm of the drum 1ST SINGER Beat on drum 2ND SINGER Drum beat, beat on CHORAGOS Hail for all the evils man has wrought All the deeds gross in unacceptance Hail for the deaths man has caused His unfulfilled desire for war Hail these foul unearthly pleasures And with one swoop, end them all 1ST SINGER Youthful sacrifice, the torso muscles tightened, The neck sprung back to hide the pain The thunder of the mind beating with the drum And the sound of the unceasing pain CHORUS Guide this sword, oh Lord of Lords Yes, guide it swift and sure CHORAGOS The brandished knife held up high CHORUS Guide this sword, come guide this sword CHORAGOS And at its peak The hand lets fly 1ST SINGER There's the shattering cry And the evils die CHORUS Swift down sword to the neck Blood flows red on the ground Evil demons flee the earth The dancers rejoice the sacrificial ground Round they dance and round Stamping with their feet blood into the ground CHORAGOS Sin is gone, young girl is dead Joy is spread, the ground is red Body is limp, the one who bled For the lives of the unbound tribe. 1ST SINGER The sacrifice was successful And we are free 2ND SINGER We can live our lives Be what we want to be CHORUS And dance to the rhythm of the never-ending drum.
copyright 2001 by Michael F. Nyiri
ElectricPoetry
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