The Haiku Challenge Day #16 ~ Sin


Judging lips spout their condemnation using a bible as their law book.  Hypocrisy lists the sins of others while turning a blind eye to its own. I sat in the pew and sang in the choir dressed in religion. I now cast the first stone at myself for casting stones at others. My heart repentant, I ask forgiveness for believing it was ever my right to be your judge.

stones are the judgment
thrown by hypocrisy’s hands
love, heal the broken

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A voice summons the shadow to come to the bed of death. A soul cannot sleep in eternal peace with sin’s bread lying upon its chest. Bony fingers take the bread and lift a glass of wine:

these sins I now eat
they will not enter your grave
peace will be your rest


The term sin-eater refers to a person, who through ritual means, would take on by means of food and drink the sins of a household, often because of a recent death, thus absolving the soul and allowing that person to rest in peace. In the study of folklore sin-eating is considered a form of religious magic.


©Susie Clevenger 2012
29 Days of 29 Haiku
Poetry Prompt: Sin Form: Haibun
The Haiku Challenge

Comments

Chèvrefeuille said…
Nicely done Susie. Great story and the haiku ... awesome.
Asni said…
Thank you for your info on sin-eater - I learned something new today. I especially love your first haiku.
Lolamouse said…
Very cool take on the prompt. I never had heard the word sin eater before. Thank you for the education!
That's really true...There is no peace if we eat sins! Greatly written :)
Andy Sewina said…
Sin-eater, that's a new one on me too!
Well presented!
vivinfrance said…
O Lord, give us the gift to see ourselves as others see us. (Robert Burns)
Grace said…
Thanks for the info on the sin-eater...this is one of your best post...love the haiku set...love, heal the broken ~
Amber said…
Excellent! Hypocrisy is something that almost every human exhibits but doesn't realise it. Nicely done!
Anonymous said…
Stunning!!
Great take on the prompt.. Thanks for sharing the info with us..
These are some powerful images; you have wrestled with the prompt well.

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