'Open your heart to the Lord', he said <br />Leave behind unfaithful friends <br />Evil spirits i command thee <br />To allow this soul to mend'. <br /> <br />Then his voice became unreasoned <br />And it was in tongues he spoke <br />Her body seemed in agony <br />As she screamed and cried and choked. <br /> <br />'Satan, you've lost this victim' <br />He screamed into the air <br />He shook the wretched supplicant <br />As he took her by the hair. <br /> <br />Outside her parents waited <br />For their schizophrenic child <br />She had once been a quiet girl <br />But had recently got wild. <br /> <br />They were fundamental Christians <br />And decried psychiatry <br />They believed that exorcism <br />Was the faithful remedy. <br /> <br />She shook and shook and screamed so loud <br />While her parents listened on <br />And with each scream they did believe <br />Another spirit gone. <br /> <br />There was madness in the air that day <br />The devil's smell was in that room <br />Then the girl gave up the struggle <br />As a cloud obscured the moon. <br /> <br />'She is cleansed and she is whole now' <br />The priest declared with calm <br />The good Lord with look after her <br />And shield her from all harm. <br /> <br />Her eyes were red and bloated <br />And she could no longer sleep <br />Then she tried to slash an artery <br />Later on that week. <br /> <br />The priest in truth was Satan <br />Masquerading as the church <br />The spirit that was broken <br />Was not evil - it was hers.<br /><br />David Keig<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/it-was-in-tongues-he-spoke/
