Image: Malcolm Williams: Castillo de los Templarios de Ponferrada, Santiago de Compostela (under protection of the Knights of Templar, 12th Century) | (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Offenders of faith

Those who would fight
evil with might —
like Templar Knights
with wrong for right —
hack down the Word
with bloody sword
—a rank abuse
rare finds excuse:
e’en though blood bent
and temp’rament
afflicts whole race
with its menace
— with death convert
none — merely hurt
cause to cause just —
yet earn more trust
than those on fence:
defense offence:
of their own skins
— the greater sin.