Sacrifice

the pounding of the drums resonates through my skull

deepening the cracks in my mental armor

making the last moments even more unbearable

my people dance with fervent vigor

their feet kicking up sand into the air

their sweat mixing with their body paint

of black coal and boar's blood

they shout up to Atahensic and Gohone

to Adekagagwaa and Onatha

and lastly to Hahgwehdiyu

praying for the land's reprieve from their wrath

for the removal of bodily spirits from our elders

and for strength in our brave warriors

that their arrows may penetrate the white demons

I stand in the center of this great ceremony

my body never yet defiled by any man

is laid bare to my people and bound by tight rope

never will I know why the old mothers would giggle

when they discuss their ventures with men past

the feel of rough hands on smooth breasts

and of warm heat in between once virgin legs

Gaol's wind blows my hair around my face

momentarily blinding me from the world

and in those brief moments my life is shown to me

the tears I shed at three when Father died on the hunt

the hours spent with Avonaco by the riverbed

when he bound our hands together with a reed

making promises he can never now keep

the high priest is chanting as he walks to me now

and I know the time has come 

my mother does not cry

her pride shows as her eyes refuse to leave mine

right before the sacred knife lines my throat

I whisper my name one last time to the Earth

"Wawetseka"