By Kay Augustine

The Old Religion,
popular among the people
of the heath,
powerful among the educated
Druids,
proved a threat to Christianity.

Calling for its destruction,
Christians pointed to the taint 
of human sacrifice, 
renamed Bel, their horned God,
the Devil,
terrified the heathens
with whisperings of black magic.

Failing to wrest the people
from their oaken roots,
they burned witches 

In the name of him
who sacrificed himself 
that all might live.