Follow?

light bends through midnight

I strain but cannot see

the final scene approaches

with grace it will take me

the dance is not heroic

the music barely heard

but every note is jarring

and every word absurd

I turn and catch your halo

the edge is burnt by Right

doubt has up and left me

faith rejoined the fight

is hope found in redemption

if so I believe it all

at least that is my mantra

if only I could heed its call

Nathaniel I

His death was truly warranted
well deserved that’s what they said
pronounced by shrouded justice
sealed in wax by lead,
when the rope it tightened
I betrayed a prideful smile
this was judgement destined
the product of pure guile

we do not sing dirges here
we frown them full of spite
into rosemary scented handkerchiefs
pressed and creased just right
do not just believe the chant
you should feel it deep within
at least that’s what the pastor said
with righteous might and vim

yet the throng paused in its swaying
as the coffin bearers dropped
every mourner would have sworn
that time itself had stopped
up swung that wooden lid
and corpse drew ragged breath
nothing could have warned us
of the foetid stench it left
one leprous finger pointed
blanched of colour and joy
in unholy truth anointed
satisfaction was destroyed

with fateful pause it spoke
the prose was foul indeed
it sprayed across the pews
like devil tainted seed
the words they took a hold
within each of us there sprang
a dread so pure and mournful
that from those seats we ran
sobbing, panting, heaving
we flew from Satan’s shroud
while all we heard behind us
was laughter booming loud

at last our flight was halted
exhausted children fell
families huddled hopeless
as if transfixed by spell
laughter now had faded
but a sullen mist arose
soaking as if seeking
our insufficient clothes,
a pitch black dread descended
callous horror driven down
it was then he came upon us
the stench enough to drown
his voice was wormed and loathsome
dripping bile just for me

"I see you there Nathaniel
your trespasses are done
none around us knew
the monster you've become
you shifted guilt before
but this is justice come"

with that last pronouncement
my gaze dragged from his eyes
maggots danced around us
decrying my demise
I wrenched away still scheming
witnessed frightened faces stilled
caught by horror and amazement
at the truth the corpse revealed

his crooked finger gestured
my flight would be in vain
so before those wretched faces
my final curse I declaimed

"You who now look bewildered
yet took joy in death's decree
should keep your daggers silvered
for I'll be back to set souls free”

The Line

Sighing he shifted to his left foot. The line in front of him seemed almost to threaten with its length. This foot was no easier. Every muscle in his back seemed to be protesting, and yet. Yet, it was worth it. Surely it was worth it. He shifted to his right foot.

“Distance is an illusion”

The statement was bold and backed up by a tight smile. The smile said more than the words. It was a don’t mess with me smile. It was an, I will ignore your reply anyway, smile.

He smiled back. “Time is the illusion, surely?” The question was more a statement. The lilt at the end was politeness, embodied in tone. His smile wavered as she removed hers. Wiped from her face, as if some noisome rag had been smoothed over it leaving a cloying residue behind.

“Distance is a consequence of time!” her disgust evident in every part of her body. Without moving she seemed further away. Time slowed. “How can you be so fooled by your senses?” There was an answer in her question. Not very well hidden by her eyes. They would not meet his now. They seemed to be interested in something off to his left. Something even his peripheral vision could not see.

“But, without distance we would not be able to measure time. Surely it is the change in our perspective that determines interval.” He no longer tried to win by smiling. This was his integrity on the line.

“Yes, but you assume distance comes first! Why? WHY? Can you not see beyond your limitations? If time did not exist OUTSIDE of distance, then distance is meaningless” now she grimaced. A twist of features emphasised by a flick of her hair. She seemed eager to rid herself of the conversation altogether. Yet she had started it, he knew his inner moaning fell on infertile ground.

The line moved forward.

“Very well then. Distance is dependent on time. A relative supported by cast off consequence perhaps. But they are co-dependents surely. One without the other is like fish without water, dying breathlessly while gasping for life.”

Her movement was perfunctory. A full stop to his sentence. She was facing away from him now. Her attention fully on being distracted from him.

“Whatever.”