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.
Copyright © John Byrd | Year Posted 2016
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment