Ritual

I wept for you, as I watched you stripped of dignity

Your flesh was ripped off to reveal a lush, beating heart

I witnessed their hands go deep in your chest and heard them remove it

Ritualistically they stomped the ground and beat their chests, they danced with your heart in their hands

Lapping at the blood and hoping to become virile, their eyes were bright in anticipation

Your cries were muddled by their whooping, your hands were rapid and pleading for an answer

In a brief moment of stillness, one looked at you in satisfaction and another took notice of his gaze

At one moment, they were on you, limbs flying and bodies angry in movement

The circle became loud and screamed obscenities in your direction, the bodies on you remained

I watched the frenzy take you over and they filled the cavity in your chest with the earth you laid on

My frame shook from the hands I held and we searched each other for an answer

The noise grew heavy as the mass disbanded, the two stayed to stand over you as they beamed in delight

You asked for water and they told you to eat dirt, one took your arm and drug you out of the center

My hands and the ones around mine tightened, tears were now falling and confusion remanined

Suddenly a moment of stark silence fell over the crowd and they paused to bow their heads

The grips arond mine loosened and sighs of relief made known, I freed a hand to wipe my face clean

My other hand was torn away from our embrace as they pulled me into the center

They tore my garments from my body and hurled them in delight, it was treated as a scarcity

The remaining wept for me as they watched me stripped of dignity