Eostre

By: Ben Bielert

Before the men from Rome,
came with their decree,
back before Christ was known,
or consigned to history,
there was a goddess Eostre
whose name was toasted to.
A spring festival was celebrated,
when the flower buds grew anew.

The marks of this rebirthing time
were made by hares and eggs,
to herald the season of new life
and the changes that it begs.
But people pass from hand to hand,
as kingdoms rise and fall,
and when they renamed the land
they had to change it all.

Rituals and customs may stand,
but the Gods aren’t the same.
Where was once a nature goddess,
now Christ was the Lord’s name.
His rebirth may have happened,
at the least it is obscure,
but it borrowed from Eostre
of that, we can be sure.

© Benjamin Bielert, all rights reserved