Poem of the Day: Thus spoke Satan by Charl Landsberg

Charl Landsberg | October 23rd, 2012 | a poem a day challenge | No Comments

[tabs tab1=”Poem” tab2=”About the Poem” tab3=”Poet Bio”]

A Poem A Day writing prompt: The Satanic Verses

I cannot… will not forgive you
My melodious friend, my agile brother
You sharp tongued devil
Indeed, God was your strength

As you abused your power
Forsaking me to the abyss
As we fell from on high
Old Gibreel, you lucky bastard

How beautiful you are
How great it must be to be famous
To languish so beautifully in their applause
So effortlessly

While I ploughed the earth, face-first
With a mouth full of sand
You danced on your way to the ground
And landed, tippy toes, with a song in your heart

Poet Bio

The story in the Satanic Verses [by Salman Rushdie] begins with Gibreel and Saladin falling from an exploded aeroplane, Gibreel having taken on the spirit of the Archangel Gabriel/Jibril and Saladin having taken on the spirit of Satan/Shaitan. Saladin remains jealous and spiteful towards Gibreel throughout the story. Gibreel is treated with respect and Saladin is treated with suspicion. Saladin drives Gibreel to commit suicide eventually among other things. Given that the story is loosely based on the story of Mohammed, it can be understood why this story caused so much outrage in a world in which Mohammed is seen as the perfect prophet.

Gabriel in Hebrew means God is my strength
Charl Landsberg is a South African Poet and Musician who is deeply passionate about human rights and activism, with poetry and songs that criticize abuse and issues surrounding sexism, homophobia, classism, child abuse, substance abuse, stigma and discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS, etc. Landsberg also focusses on issues of religion and atheism, having studied biblical studies and theology at post graduate level.

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