I didn’t want to be there as the evening embers fell
Still I came
Stood in the shadows
Watched
And listened as they rang the bells
As the bell tolls
So heads will roll
With fear in the eyes
And a guttural scream
From the throat left behind
Hands rose from the earth
Tied my feet to the ground
I wanted to scream
But the wind stole the sound
My howls were lifted into the air
Snap of a twig
Perhaps a branch
Quick turn of the head
There was nobody there
Untying my feet
I turned on my heel
Ran as fast as I could
With burning lungs
The skies sobs
Echoed the mourning wind
The swollen belly of the earth
Belched under my weight
I begged the devil
Swore allegiance to God
Staggered out of the fog
Alas. It was too late
I saw with my own eyes
Broken men stood
At heaven’s gate.
C.K.23
