Once Upon Perdition

The apostate looked out his window,
and started to believe 
As genuflecting pylons, 
sent ramifications through the trees
Chaos looked at reason,
was it about to make a plea
I see Satan’s raising an army 
or so the nihilists agreed

The Crier rang his Leper bell, 
‘our town’s a Godless apparition’
Least he filled hearts with envy, 
of a once dreaded condition 
Now the King prayed for calm,
in another pagan act of contrition 
After his son died at birth, 
he had proscribed all religion

Atheists came from all around, 
excommunication filled the air
Roots now faced horizontal, 
trying to feed off despair 
Anxious to leave town, 
random leaves block civic square 
And steeplejacks are disorientated, 
from neglecting their repairs

That hole’s not deep enough, 
winked the piper to the knave
He could never resist a shortcut, 
even digging his own grave 
But the madness continued,
hermits set fire each other’s caves
Shedding light on the void,
by burning alive it’s willing slaves

And as the apocalypse gathered pace, 
populations slowly died
Some genius came forward, 
a real madman in disguise 
Said we need a scapegoat, 
a dimwit, an ultimate sacrifice 
He was crucified for being too clever, 
they much preferred no advice 

And whilst writing this story,
that apparently makes no sense 
The Queen was in her chambers,
hanging herself from suspense
Children butcher themselves gaily, 
having learned how to fence
As for putting the fear of God into us,
the wicked come crawling to repent 

So finally when heaven reopened, 
a total eclipse tried darken that day 
Never to see man overshadowed again,
Sun went nova, vaporising all life away 




By
David Kavanagh
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Flaherty Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 1:13 PM
Why David Sir Children butcher themselves gaily The queen was in her chamber Hanging herself from suspense Let the scapegoat eat cake as a final meal This has left me in suspended animation Lepers Nihilism Steeplejack Pylons Perdition personified
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 29, 2021 at 3:52 PM
Guns n roses do a cracking version of that Dylan song
Flaherty Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 2:05 PM
Just wrote 1 for you David Knock Knocking on Heavens Door
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Ha good one Homer, I hope this one bounces back onto you, and inspires another potd for you
Flaherty Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 1:45 PM
Well I am ever so glad and grateful not you did David. Because it's absolutely brilliant. Your queen line is on a par with my Crow. But that would just be splitting hairs And ive got less than Homer Love it
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 1:27 PM
I had the ideas for this poem in my head but it wasn’t coming together, til I read your line the crow and raindrop splitting hairs on the reapers scythe, then somehow it all made sense and I wrote this one soon afterwards, so whatever you tapped into so did I, cheers David
Flaherty Avatar
December 22, 2021 at 1:18 PM
If I ever miss any of your poems such as this David. Please inform me and let me know to read them . Cheer's David what Gershon said the best songwriters are tortured poets
Wolf Avatar
December 19, 2021 at 6:24 PM
Wow! Were you ever a songwriter for Bob Dylan? This is utterly amazing, David. Get it published. ~ Gershon
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 20, 2021 at 1:44 AM
I can see where your coming from Gershon, this one is a bit Dylanesque, I started with some abstract ideas, and as they say, just seemed to write itself, thank you so much for such a fine compliment, cheers David
Flood Avatar
December 19, 2021 at 12:00 PM
A great read, David. Even though with each read through I see a different version of events. I’ve imagined Adam’s asp, Boris being the scapegoat, Jesus being the ‘too clever’… or was that a covid scientist? I’ve decided that this is rather like the Matrix… Brilliant but scrambles your brain if you try too hard to get it. I’ll take it at face value and say ‘love it’. Terry
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 19, 2021 at 12:45 PM
Terry to explain this one would probably spoil it, indeed part of my idea was to get people thinking abstractly about life, yet make some sense to them at the same time, I really am delighted you find meaning in here, it means I’ve achieved my intended effect, your comment is priceless, cheers David
Baker Avatar
December 18, 2021 at 4:41 PM
An epic tale, this poem is, David. My first visit I think, I'll be back though, Bill
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 18, 2021 at 9:22 PM
Thank you Bill, mankind’s view can be hard to fathom at times, especially in times of trial, I’m agnostic myself, and leave the door open to all possibilities, I really don’t know anything for certain, and based on that alone try to live my life in the hope of finding what truly underpins reality, cheers David
Poet Avatar
December 18, 2021 at 10:45 AM
random leaves block up civic square And steeplejacks are disorientated, from neglecting their repairs A terrific poem, David. You have an excellent ability to keep the reader captivated by your well-constructed words. Every verse is a complete poem by itself.
Kavanagh  Avatar
December 18, 2021 at 11:15 AM
Thank you Lasaad I am flattered by your comments, well spotted, this one is possibly a collage, from ideas that have being nagging at me, and somehow came together into a plausible if not linear poem, cheers David
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