After the Beheading

After the Beheading
 
What they did
they did
in the name of god

in the name of god

as long 
as I have
head
or tongue
or hand
I will not remain silent

in the name of god
the godless
did
what they did

and the world quaked

what god
could create
such acts
in the name of
such men

what god

they did
what they did

in the name of god

not spit nor brass
shall glorify them

no god
shall pull asunder
what god has rendered

no man
shall render god
godless
in what they do

for god
in his magic
will render godless
in all their godliness
no godlier
that what they did
god
in his magic wisdom
will render
on this horrid, bloodless day

in the name of god

on this day
no god
shall remain
as ungodly as thou
on this day
no god
shall remain

in the name of god
I do hereby swear

Copyright 2007, 2023 by Mike Maggio

This poem originally appeared in my collection, deMockracy (Plain View Press, 2007), partially funded by a grant from The Puffin Foundation.