BEHOLD, O Lord, Thy faithful people! The father slays his child, the dear one; The mother has her task accomplished, And sends to Thee her hallowed offspring. Across their knees the parents brandish The keen-edged knives for work of slaughter; The mother ties the child, The father makes the gash; They say a sacrificial blessing, For they are met to die together, And to make known Thy holy Oneness And one announces to the other, "This day we keep a feast of union!" Their children all they immolate, As free-will gifts, as bonds of love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPIRITUAL ISOLATION: A FRAGMENT by ISAAC ROSENBERG THE BATTLE-FIELD by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT INGRATEFUL [OR UNGRATEFUL] BEAUTY THREATENED by THOMAS CAREW MANDRAKE'S SONG; FRAGMENT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |