Generic

still quietude of night 
grates like metal on metal 
cape of darkness 
to feather-float you 
to dreamland 
instead 
a lightning bolt 
to hell 
who are you 
sad creature 
consider you the child 
innocent 
in the path 
of righteousness 
because the womb 
bears no evil 
and you the young man 
cocksure preening animal 
evil’s acolyte 
eager to accept 
the devil’s embrace 
and you the aged stallion 
evil’s spawn 
dream of frolic 
with the harpies 
but impotent 
your life has been 
the many-layered 
peeling of an onion 
but have you 
peeled inward 
to that core 
of childish purity 
or outward 
to the place you fear 
in the blind black 
cradle of nighttide

the reckoning