Stroke of Fortune

bang on the midnight hour she woke from her terror

suffocating her eyes popped out of orbital spheres 

nerves exposed and dangling tears in front of the truth


not that long ago she had danced in moonshines of joy

bells and whistles attached to silken colourful dreams

now her lullaby had become an epitaph of surrender


she clutched at the straw in the coffin and inhaled

one last breath filled her lungs and screamed as if

to loosen the nails of the casket for one final time


one of which clawed its way into her frontal lobe

she could smell earthworms and scented pastoral voices

almost slipped on the marble of the polished grave stone


the straw tasted of raspberry sorbet and whipped cream

self-flagellation removed the sour icing on the last cake

and she stroked the cotton cloth with her calloused hands


transcended a highway to heaven and took leave of her fear

a crowd of bigoted mourners took flight and ate their words

when she offered no retribution but unconditional kindness


her nightmare’s clarity offered a way to step out of the pit

the pendulum of self-incrimination pierced moribund scares

at the stroke of midnight the sunrise welcomed a new dawn
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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