In the land of Ombi, by the Nile so grand
Lies a tale of a crocodile, mysterious and grand
For once a year, a maiden is offered in sacrifice
To honor the creature, so strong and so wise
The high priest selects the fairest of them all
And she prepares for her fate, standing proud and tall
Three months she spends in seclusion and prayer
Preparing for the day when she\'ll meet the crocodile\'s lair
On the day of the exhibition, the maidens compete
But only one will be chosen, while the others face defeat
The chosen one, with fear and anticipation in her heart
Is taken to the island, where the crocodile will play his part
As the beast wags his tail, and his jaws stir
The maiden meets her fate, with a shiver and a blur
A sacrifice to honor the creature so dear
In the land of Ombi, where traditions are clear
But as the poem ends with a scolding and a lament
The tale takes a twist, and the truth it may present
For the crocodile, so revered and praised
May not be the answer to the sacrifices raised
For in this land of traditions and old beliefs
Lies a truth that may bring about grief
For the crocodile, in all its might and awe
May not be as good and dear as they all saw
So let us ponder and question the tale
Of sacrifice and tradition, with a brave heart to prevail
For in the end, it\'s not the crocodile we should fear
But the customs and beliefs that may not be sincere. (\"The Land of Ombi\") by Courtney Weaver Jr.