Isaac
and a Man took his knife
willing to slaughter his child
his child’s children and their children
in the thornbush they watched
captains of fossil fuel industries
waiting to see the Man fulfill their delusion
the sky filled with extinct birds
the rocks cracked under extinct mammals
the ground swelled with dead micro-organisms
the Man looked up
his blinders dissolved
as his knife reflected rays of sunlight
fearing his child's wrath
the Man cut every arteria carotis
sacrificing the captains of industry
and a Man took his knife
willing to slaughter his child
his child’s children and their children
in the thornbush they watched
captains of fossil fuel industries
waiting to see the Man fulfill their delusion
the sky filled with extinct birds
the rocks cracked under extinct mammals
the ground swelled with dead micro-organisms
the Man looked up
his blinders dissolved
as his knife reflected rays of sunlight
fearing his child's wrath
the Man cut every arteria carotis
sacrificing the captains of industry
Notes
In 2019, Julia Steinberger published an article unpacking the word ‘Sacrifice’ in view of climate action on www.opendemocracy.net. She concludes with referring to the story of Abraham and asks what it is we need to sacrifice. This poem builds on that paragraph to describe the moment of realization whom to sacrifice.
Audiogram
In 2019, Julia Steinberger published an article unpacking the word ‘Sacrifice’ in view of climate action on www.opendemocracy.net. She concludes with referring to the story of Abraham and asks what it is we need to sacrifice. This poem builds on that paragraph to describe the moment of realization whom to sacrifice.
Audiogram