An Honest Circle Casting

A poetic commentary on how humans — more often than not — get and have gotten power throughout history, written in the same style I might otherwise use to write liturgy for a circle casting. 

Glint of light upon this blade
The stain of red will never fade
Ancestor’s blood, both death and birth
And this is how we claim the Earth

Power of fire
The circle round
With smelted metal
I take this ground
Ink that draws
A nation’s line
Violence done
By right divine

Glint of light upon this blade
The stain of red will never fade
Ancestor’s blood, both death and birth
And this is how we claim the Earth

Power of death
Both foe and beast
Conquer the weak
Then drink and feast
By this, my blade
I lay down law
Through oppression,
Fear and Awe

Glint of light upon this blade
The stain of red will never fade
Ancestor’s blood, both death and birth
And this is how we claim the Earth

With steel-tip pen
Letters I feign
With treacherous ink
I craft the chain
Obey my statues
All here within
Lest I unleash
The price of sin

Glint of light upon this blade
The stain of red will never fade
Ancestor’s blood, both death and birth
And this is how we take the Earth

All which rises
Falls again
Fire and metal
Death and pen
And all which falls
Again shall rise
With bloodshed,
Ink and paper-lies