House of Cards

House of cards I. I fear the clock renders neither mirror nor dull glass. Like the Lilly it moves and grows and dies unseen by our distracted eyes, telling me nothing, moment by moment. Time, her only transgression is death-- quick, fluid, emaciated, withering and vast. II. I will touch the sun and every gray will taste my eternity. I will build Babylon with an edict, with an imperial deck of cards, screaming, hissing, blind, knowing. You taught me, after all. III. Prince, ha-satan, you laid the ruin track for me, taught me to accuse Love. You, grand inquisitor, pro-bono prosecutor, veiling the world again beneath fire, beneath scales under twisted mouth. IV. We once knew a peace under sun and rain. God offered the sun and the rain before snow fell from the evil tree, before acid dripped down and you, you, you, heard your name over and over again, and the madness cradled you in flame.