Radiance of Mortality
Perched upon
gray branches in leafless trees
blackbirds rest
on their journey to nowhere
an icy red wine sky leaps into our mind
just over the horizon
a mysterious radiant mortality looms
as it waits
church bells toll in the valleys
a pain in my head reaches a crescendo
the illness rages
dirty linen is left here
the body quakes and quivers with the fever
night brings a moonless horror
crickets sing
raspy breathing slows
body stiffens as the woeful spirit releases
death arrives in a radiance of darkness
as the sun rises
eyes open to a different view of life
is death the absolute end
or just a new beginning.