Where Moloch relished children sacrificed
Outside Jerusalem, where worms won’t die.
Am I a fool to claim the cursed vale
Has migrated from Israel to Mosul?
A pack of cigarettes for toothless girls,
For little women—Kafir, Nasrani.
From nine to twelve years old they fetch a price
Of two dollars in cash per pound of flesh.
You call it ibadah when Kafir lays
Across the makeshift bed as master prays,
Then sates himself in worship of Allah,
Unveiling violent God behind closed doors.
He veils her face, her mimed screams unseen
beneath the burqa for six solemn weeks.
Until this infidel holds to her breast
“Emancipation,” undersigned and stamped,
Her former owner glutted, trained, and gone
To suicide himself strategically.
He leaves her here infected, young and free
Bethesda’s healing waters out of reach.
—Joshua Hren
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
