Rusted, old and squeaky
stood tall, the feeble iron gate
I reach out in front of me and push it open
it shrieks as it swings, piercing my ears
slowly and with caution, I walk in

The ground is dried, shriveled and blotched
urine saturated leaves hang from a ceased tree
wailing in the dead air for a lucid soul to quench
its undying thirst for life, color and zest, to bring back
that once vital spark it used to taste at the tip of its leaves
and the very last of its roots, but
it forever weeps in this dreary land of cold, hardened feelings

Rancid creatures scamper across the terrain
and fly through the sky marking their territory
on things that do not belong to them, things
that hold one last drop of hope for life again

Buildings that once stood tall and proud
reaching for the sky with glee
are now crumbled to the floor in ruins
silently staring at the once brightly lit sky
but is strewn with black and grey clouds
that have no intention of floating away
no intention of bringing the sun back for a brighter day

A children's playground, surprisingly enough, still stands
corroded, burned and rotten
slashed and gashed
with holes twice the size of my fist
-that I now noticed is clenching tightly
cutting off the circulation in my veins-
tainted blood defiles the playground
from top to bottom, as though a gruesome
murder had taken place, ending the lives
of innocent children and their doting families

A crow caws in the distance
as I look up, high in the sky
the crow is flying in circles
forever enduring a madness unknown
but definitely showing

Parched on a gravestone is a phoenix
-no I had no idea it was a phoenix, not
form where I was standing at least-
as I approached it, I noticed the weakened flames
that once should have been a blazing pyre
an aura, so rich and vivid, blinding to look at
that one must shield their eyes, is no more

This forsaken land has choked the life out of
everything around it, and it is now choking
the life out of this poor phoenix
I try to touch the flames and ruefully enough,
I smothered what was left of the dimmed phoenix

A solitary tear slips down my face
as I mourn the loss of existence that has
occurred in this land and stricken it with
cataclysms beyond belief
















I saw this in the reflections of my
lifeless, first born infant's eyes

I kiss her forehead gently and
cover her head with the blanket
that is wrapped around her

The nurse takes my baby from me,
forged smiles of sorrow on her face
as she puts a hand on my shoulder to comfort me,
then carries my daughter away

I turn my head and shut my eyes tight, whispering

"Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?"
Why not take my life instead?


((Recited is a verse from Hosea 13:14))