Keep the Holy Tree Alive

A message to not let religion go too far.

Under the holy tree, did the five animals meet.

A sheep, a lion, a goat, a cow, and a deer took a seat.

They first discussed what food they want to eat,

Since not many of them can consume any meat.

 

A light from above shines from atop the tree

And a basket of fruits falls for everybody.

With magic appears a kettle of tea,

And their meal was settled quite easily.

 

"On to a more important discussion." The lion states

"What is the meaning of life, and our fates?"

Thoughts turned the sounds empty, like their plates,

As the other four philosophised, the lion waits.

 

The sheep goes first after polishing his sword,

Believing “Life is a gift from the almighty lord.

We must praise him; he whom we pray toward

As we sing him an ode with a harpsichord.”

 

The lion thinks about it and he agrees.

“Yes. God gave us all, and we shall do as he please.

We have no right to harm others, we are not disease.

We are simply fish, and god is the seven seas.”

 

“You mean gods?” The cow interjected.

“The other billions of deities, you have neglected!

There are four folds of life to be perfected.

To achieve true enlightenment, as expected.”

 

“Enlightenment is the key to end all suffering.”

According to the deer, as he meditates while hovering.

“But to truly do that, we must focus on restructuring.

Let go of temporaries, all they do is keep us plundering.”

 

The goat finally joined the discussion. “Wallah,

This knowledge has been studied by the mullah,

We all live to be judged by the mighty Allah.

Because this life right now, is our test for Jannah.”

 

The deer countered the goat’s declaration.

“A test? No, there is reincarnation.

Samsara until you achieve liberation.”

“I agree with him!” The cow gives the deer his confirmation.

 

“Well we do not!” Objected the goat and the sheep.

“You live only once, so make the most before eternal sleep.

And make sure the faith of the lord, you upkeep,

Or heaven you enter not, but you fall down in the deep.”

 

The intense flames of dispute burned down integrity,

When the sheep swung at the goat despite their solidarity.

The shade of the holy tree became a land of barbarity,

As all peace was lost in the midst of insanity.

 

“That’s enough!” The voice of the holy tree commanded.

“Your religion is, but a moral compass you’ve enchanted

With politics and war, then you brutishly expanded!

And now you judge groups and individuals!? your goal is abandoned!”

 

The five animals stared still at the holy tree.

Maybe in the end, they were just too blind to see,

That the truth is they should not take it too seriously.

Unfortunately, this story ends much morbidly.

 

“Blasphemy I say!” Accuses the sheep, lion, and goat.

“We should chop this tree down and turn it to banknotes!”

“What!? No way” retaliates the deer who’s still afloat.

The cow goes “Agreed. Why don’t we just have a vote?”

 

But the other three were already blinded by their “faith”.

As the goat, with his scimitar sliced the tree up into eighths.

By doing this, the sheep had been accidentally scathed.

“That is it you terrorist! In my blood now you shall bathe!”

 

The horrific violence caused those two their own demise.

The cow proceeds to laugh because he has not yet realise.

The deer had stolen his sweets and when he asked, he lies.

But the lion knew about it so he planned to scandalise.

 

But his plan had backfired. And upon telling the cow,

He was stabbed in the chest with his horns, in his mouth.

The cow was blinded by anger, and he murdered the lion. Now,

He walks up to the deer, and gave him a good plough.

 

He snapped his neck in half and chewed his ears off.

But he choked on a bone and now has a blood cough.

Then the skies turned grey, and out comes a Molotov.

The cow was burned to death by a bird with a black coif.

 

It was the crow; advocate of death and doubt.

“If you don’t survive. Your life will be a drought.

If all you got was a fish. Then just eat that trout.

It’s survival of the fittest, or else you’re out!”

Author's Note

Disclaimer: I have only known one of these religions. Please give criticism on what you find wrong.