Nourishment to the Gods

The knife plunged deep into his chest,
And the gods smiled. Proof, they said,
Of divine devotion as the worshipers ripped
His heart from his gaping chest —
And held high for all the devout to see.

Now we’re more civilized,
Preferring less theatrics behind closed
Doors, where the smell of burnt flesh
Of the condemned is supplied to the gods
Of revenge, where high-voltage electrical
Current completes the death ritual on special occasions.

But more often, sacrifice to the gods is subtle,
Carried out on the altar of weakness
Where critical thinking skills
Are ripped from the mind
And replaced with dogma and superstition.
Once again, the gods smile.