Sleepwake

Im not much of a writer, but I thought of this poem when I woke up...actually it woke me up...and so I thought I would just write it...So bear with me, I think there may also be mistakes I looked over but whatever. The First line was sent by the deepest hands; the morning star. The earth rumbled heavily in pain; his first victim. Someone felt something but couldn’t tell Someone was troubled by the barking dogs Some, had a strange twitch in their knee. Others, a sharp pain in their hip. Some asked if anyone else thought the ground had moved A daughter nudged her mother and said she felt a little sick Someone said it was a bad day. The second line was Beelzebub with callous fist. The ground rocked immensely, as if hell itself was escaping its depths. Some thought it might be bad, others thought it would go away Many scrambled like ants Some were frozen in shock A Boy frantically searched for his game boy A Father thought of his family as he hurried down the stairs A Woman said a quick wavering prayer as she stumbled out the front door A Child asked what was happening as she was whisked away And the third line brought Abadon, the destroyer . He glided through the city swiftly, invoking the wrath of ram-shackle ceilings and flimsy foundation, sparing only the wicked mercy of selective death. The terror sound filled the air Rung louder even than the fatal crunch of concrete and tin. Mothers called out for their children Men ran back into falling buildings Sisters carried brothers An old man pushed his grandson out of small window before it collapsed A little girl ran with a crowd, unsure of where her feet were taking her A small boy looked up to see if there were planes flying “What kind of war is this?” He wondered The fourth line ran down a woman’s back exposing her naked cartilage for Amon to feast. Children crowded around wondering what to do A neighbor pushed them along. Debris jettisoned into the street; people running blindly, falling like toothpicks. A Few felt an odd softness in their tread but didn’t dare look down Some stopped when they remembered someone they forgot They circled in position wondering whether to go back. A pregnant mother held her stomach, swaying as liquid trickled down her thighs A Man fell to his knees as he watched his home crumble The terrifying cries for help ceased in an instant. It was a cold silence. Then the fifth line came and Beelzebub was finished. Men sifted through the piles of bodies and met their darkest fears, A Woman’s eyes welled with pain as she shouted, searching for someone or thing to blame. A boy clawed though rubble with his bare fists Muffled yells sounded from down beneath, in the oblivion A dying girl lay in the street, moaning for help with her last breaths. Someone lost everything; someone lost something that meant everything. A group carried a woman who couldn’t speak or walk, She thought she had seen Christ. A Grandfather lay in grass, panting to catch his breath, Someone had said it was the apocalypse, and he hoped it still was. The Final line creeped past the furthest light in a small shack far from Port O Prince, guided steadfast by Muan. As he flowed swiftly over the barren forestland he breathed in the delightful reminder of dried mud and stagnant blood, smiling softly. They moved hastily over the black oceans, traveling far and wide to deliver the tidings, and when they reached us, Muan carefully slipped it in our tea as we watched the evening news. "What a quaint little island," we thought. A woman asked a friend to repeat. A Man gasped for Air. A child wondered why everyone was crying. A boy hugged a girl who couldn't speak. Beloved scrambled to the phone, Desperately sifting through papers to find a forgotten number for a home that no longer existed. Some didn't look, Some didn't care Some thought of home, Some thought of the Indian Ocean, some thought of China, Louisiana, Iran, India and Ethiopia, solemnly nodding before going back to their business. "What an unfair world," we said softly. But Muan nevertheless persisted, quietly tapping our shoulders even as we lay to rest. And then finally⎯in a late hour⎯he got his victory and threw back his head in elation. In that moment, even the coldest among us felt the frigid shudder of the sixth line. Shattering, Wrenching, Undeniable, Stopping just short of our hearts and bringing us the sweet, cruel safety of distance.
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