The Shepherd

The staff of my Father enjoining the past futurity’s herding a bleating morass The bloodline of orphans forever is linked tattooing the flock with invisible ink The first time the last time when nearing the end tomorrow’s ungifted excuses portend And times better nature is better untimed beginning and ending forever conjoined Eternity’s fenceposts hem in with disdain all future inclemency fire and rain But just as that last final sheep stays unsold — my Father returns to re-shepherd the fold (Dreamsleep: June, 2025)