The Legend of the Sacrifice

"Here, I'm awaiting the glance of your eye

Without a hope, without a pray'r, without a sigh

Not going to defy you- not one tear will I cry-

For I am not afraid of you.

I will not give all you desire from me-

I will not beg, I won't kneel, I won't plea-

Your kind of love costs too high a fee

One I'd rather not pay.

Tales of your wrath are told far and wide

About how many have faced you, how many have died

You couldn't last if that did decide

For mine is stronger than yours.

And if I were weak, in dreams I'd escape-

A child at my breast, a husband's tall shape-

But all that awaits me is unloving rape

And death will take me to wife.

What gives you the right to love and to kill?

Is it so easy to sway them to your will?

It's only for them that I've climbed this old hill

But I would rather survive.

But to all of my people, my father is king,

He told me the joy to his life I did bring

But the rumors all say you accept just one thing-

A princess both regal and fair.

They brought me here without a protest

With a wreath of flowers, and my finest dress,

They said as they left me that my death was best-

And it was, but only for them.

I ask you a question- I know you don't care

Why, Molten god with the golden red hair,

Why do you feel you must have your full share

Of virgins like me to deflow'r?

My life is now done, the sun sinking down,

Now I'll fling away my flower and crown,

I'll do my duty- with the god I'll lie down

And tell him to burn in my hell!"

And so the young maiden leapt to her fiery death,

Fell cursing her gods to her final breath.

Then the lava boil'd up, down the mountain it swept,

And her people all burned away.
-KAS, 4/8-9/96

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