Poem for Libra

Libra, the Scales, represents the truth that mankind is weighed in the balance and found wanting. His debt is beyond his ability to pay.

          Station of Propitiation
                  a villanelle*

Woman then man failed in the Temptation
Deceived to rebel as the Serpent sought
Wherein is their hope for Restoration?

They cannot supply their own Salvation
Condemned Victims of a deadly onslaught
Woman then man failed in the Temptation

Grieved to discover their lowered Station
Why had they not thought that they would be caught?
Wherein is their hope for Restoration?

Useless to them a bloodless Oblation
Another for them had Salvation bought
Woman then man failed in the Temptation

All have failed ever since the Creation
A Savior for them the great Battle fought
Wherein is their hope for Restoration?

One from above made Propitiation
A hero for them a Miracle wrought
Woman then man failed in the Temptation
Wherein is their hope for Restoration?


*A villanelle is a poetic form of 19 lines: 5 stanzas of 3 lines, a 6th stanza of 4 lines. Each line 10 syllables. Rhyme scheme stanza 1-5 is ABA; stanza 6 ABAA (2 rhymes total). Line 1 is also line 6, 12 and 18. Line 3 is also line 9, 15 and 19.