I want to thank Russell Walsh for providing the inspiration for the title of this poem.
The sin particle,
an element
before the elements
of the Periodic Table.
An irritation
to the core
that makes it unstable
like uranium or plutonium,
an existential explosion
with the biblical force
of 100 Noachian floods
unlike the God particle
of infinite glory
that pre-existed the lies
that traumatize
the innocent child
at the beginning
of every story.
The sin particle,
an infection festering
like a splinter in the mind,
corrupting spiritual beings
from the inside,
an “infinity stone”
of the soul
once perfect and pure
stolen from the divine tribunal,
shaped in the heart
of a dying star
of a celestial,
Lucifer, the angel of light,
a deceptive jewel,
once bright and beautiful,
convinced all life
irrational,
a hedonist to the core,
reducing all life
to pleasure and sight
with nothing ultimate
to live for.
Insisting at the Grand Experiment
of mortals in creation
that faith is fleeting,
doubt is believing,
rebelling is seeing,
and abdicating the Throne
is an angelic birthright.
Seductive in power,
the sin particle shines
but only an hour,
still promising
futures and fortunes
like a crystal ball,
insisting time is eternal,
guaranteeing survival,
bypassing the great judgment,
and fomenting insurrection
that will always exist
and never sour.
The sin particle buries secrets
into the earth,
pretending to be forgotten
only to have them resurrected
and harvested
by the next generation
to sample its fruit,
a shiny apple
that perverts,
first with a tug
then tastes rotten.
Dead bones come to life,
betraying black hearts
with accusing arrows,
selling secrets cheap.
How does one stop
the sin particle?
Can it be split
like an atomic bomb
to self-destruct?
Only one Eternal can.
The Titan of titans,
called the Christ,
the God-man,
whom sin failed to corrupt.
A large pill to be swallowed.
Only Heaven’s Son
can stomach
its poison and power
with exemplary enzymes
that steel our faith,
a rare but beautiful flower,
the only one of its kind,
worth more than
all worldly treasures combined,
coveted for their precious properties
made of elements and particles
that fashion all living things,
things yet to be discovered,
things yet to be mined.