Drakus's blog: "The Book Of Nod"

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The Cronicle of Caine

The First Times

I dream of the first times
the longest memory

I speak of the first times
the oldest Father
I sing of the first time
and the dawn of Darkness

In Nod, where the light of Paradise
lit up the night sky
and the tears of our parents
wet the ground

Each of us, in our way,
set about to live
and take our sustenance from the land

And I, first-borne Caine, I,
with sharp things,
planted the dark seeds,
wet them in the earth
tended them, watched them grow

And Abel, second-borne Abel
tended the animals
aided their bloody births
fed them, watched them grow

I loved him, my

Brother
He was the brightest
The sweetest
The strongest
He was the first part
of all my joy.

Then one day
our Father said to us,
Caine, Abel
to him above you must make a sacrifice--
a gift of the first part
of all that you have

And I, first-borne Caine, i
gathered the tender shoots
the brightest fruits
the sweetest grass

And Abel, second-borne, Abel
slaughtered the youngest
the strongest,
the sweetest of his animals

On the altar of our Father
we laid our sacrifices
and lit fire under them
and watched the smoke carry them
up to the One Above

The sacrifice of Abel, second-borne,
smelled sweetest to the One Above
and Abel was blessed

And I, first-borne Caine, I
was struck from beyond by
a harsh word and a curse,
for my sacrifice was unworthy.

I looked at Abel’s sacrifice,
still smoking, the flesh, the blood.
I cried, I held my eyes
I prayed in night and day

And when Father said
the time for sacrifice has come again

And Abel led his youngest,

his sweetest,
his most beloved
to the sacrificial fire

I did not bring my
youngest,
my sweetest,
for I knew the
One Above
would not
want them.

And my brother,
beloved Abel
said to me
“Caine, you did not bring
a sacrifice,
a gift of the first
part of you joy,
to burn on the altar
of the One Above.”

I cried tears of love as I,
with sharp things,
sacrificed that
which was the
first part of
my joy,
my brother.

And the Blood of Abel
covered the altar
and smelled sweet
as it burned

But my Father said
“Cursed are you, Caine,
who killed your brother.
As I was cast out
so shall you be.”

And he exiled me to wander in Darkness,
the land of Nod.

I flew into the Darkness
I saw no source of light
and I was afraid
And alone.