Rituals: A Trio of Poems - 1. Poems

Pampanga Easter

In the Pampanga Province of the great Philippines

Easter festivities break from the norm

Heresy reigns in the east Catholic state

Their saviors' agony they surely embrace

The cross above the crowds where people doth languish

In the Pampanga Province a crown you may don

Easter festivities complete with thorns

Heresy reigns with blood from their brows

Their savior's pain dripping in crimson

The crowns upon their heads create tears from their veins

In the Pampanga Province you can surely behold

Easter festivities have gone too far

Heresy reigns with ignorant fervor

Their saviors' ordeals relived to extremes

The penitence they seek causes woe in the flesh

Author's Commentary: This really happens. On good Friday, in particular, some people from this part of The Philippines will wear crowns of thorns and partake in self-flagellation. A brave few are crucified, though not until death occurs.

Vegetables of Phucket

The city of Phucket in the south of Thailand

Red autumn leaves bring knives made of steel

The days number nine, no meat can they eat

A masochist song drives swords through cheeks

The city of Phucket in month nine or ten

Autumn leaves bring despair to the mouth

When days number nine, beast flesh will not mesh

A masochist song, an oral spear

Author's Commentary: The Vegetable Festival in Phucket Thailand is a time in which people put themselves through some serious pain by sticking sharp objects through their cheeks. If I remember correctly they even slice open other parts of their bodies as well.

Hold Thy Rattlesnake

In the middle of Smokey Mountain fair

I hold this snake above my head

I do not worry for God is above

When these great fangs pierce my fair skin

Though pain is there I will not weep

For God will...

In the middle of the Appalachian chain

I hold this snake reverently

I do not worry with Jesus near

When these great fangs draw blood from me

Though pain is there I will praise God

For He will...

Author's Commentary: Snake handling is a rare Pentecostal Church practice in which church worshipers hold venomous snakes whilst speaking in tongues. Not only do they have this delusion of speaking some strange language, but they also have no fear of snakes that can easily kill them. It's all based on a two Bible verse that they ignorantly take literally:

And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

Story Discussion