Hellhounds

The candles burn their prayers to the heavens from the cold walls of the house of God The rain pounds at the earth beyond and someone runs upon the mud His rosary swings in his desperate hands His prayers are earnest He mutters fast "Listen to me, Lord, and answer me, for I am helpless and weak. Save me from death, because I am loyal to you; save me, for I am your servant and I trust in you-” His feet lose their grip on the sodden ground Dread thumps at his heart the prayer dies in his mouth He gasps in his panic as the monsters gain He gets up from the floor and cries out in pain Teeth in his flesh His Achilles heel They tear at the muscle His final appeal “Help me"! He screams as they tear at the meat He kicks at their jaws and he is back on his feet The candles flicker as the doors swing wide They slam to a close and he runs inside Up to the alter he falls to his knees The growls grow louder “Lord, Help me, please”! The hounds are trapped yonder bless’d stone but they howl at the door for the man they are owed He raises his arms His ultimate plea up to his saviour with blood on his sleeves “Be merciful! Please, they are coming for me! Forgive me, my Father, That I wanted to leave”. His face is pale with the shine of death He begs his Father to forgive his sin His veins are torn His soul bereft “Lord, please forgive me, don’t let them in”. The candles go out With one gust of wind The doors slowly open and the hellhounds come in.