Very, Very Soon

Unease…approaching panic in me grew, As I walked out confronting carnage everywhere, Radiation-rotted corpses fouling all the air, Bodies bare of clothing, hair and skin, Slain by war that men thought men could win. The very carrion worms seemed ready to expire. And my internal clock was slowing…that I knew, Retarding with the halting tick of run-down Time, Tocking till the final knell of Doom would chime, Calling me to topple toward polluted grass, Letting life (not worth knowing) pass… Atomically contaminated earth, my bier.