Saturday 23 October 2021

Baptism

by Nick Gisburne



A life, a child, a pure, untainted soul
In baptism we welcome to the Church
She wears the Devil’s choker, black as coal
With braided twists of mistletoe and birch
The slaughter of a monkey marks the dawn
The omens of its liver augur well
And with the bones of babies never born
We pave a path to guide this child to Hell
Let evil demons, dripping with disease
Infect her heart with darkness and decay
An offering of innocence to please
Our Lord, our King, on this auspicious day
    With blood we bless the body of the child
    And sing to see her destiny defiled