Diocletian days

The sacred is sacrificed
along with all value
bereft in secular ways.
No time for prayer
no time for worship
in these Diocletian days.
The febrile hoarde 
have a new game
persecution has many ways.
Slander replaces 
the ravenous lion
in these Diocletian days.
They speak of tolerance
freedom and choice
another tide to raise.
Abstract replaces
all semblance of substance
in these Diocletian days.
Truth to suppress
when inconvenient 
foolish secular play.
Life is irrelevant
to the indulgent
in these Diocletian days.
Lord please guide us
our strength and protector
the faithful humbly prays.
Truth stands tall
defying the tyrant
in these Diocletian days.

* Diocletian refers to the 4th century AD Roman emperor Diocletian, last Roman persucutor of the Christian faith.