THE BREAD OF DEATH

What is this thing we have swallowed?

After much gnashing of teeth, after much obscenity

After much blood's been let.

This is a thing that we have bitten impatiently

So that the truth was scorched straight off our tongues.

This is a thing which some ate cold and were ignored,

Which many ate last and were forgotten.

Has the taste left our mouths? Have we a sweet tooth?

Now we shove our fingers down our throats

To make the bile boil bloody

So as to retch fresh fodder into the trough.

Our bellies groan rotten, our craven eyes stare wild!

Satan whips our fatty hides and we go hurtling.

And I hear the mad ones squeal from the front ranks

As they lead the charge down the steep place:

Let us all turn into pigs and eat!

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Blessed are they which hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be filled.