Ruins of the Beast

Shuffling; Like a lonely leaf
across the barren plains-
Tumbling forever through the
fields where life once thrived-
You held up your arms to embrace
all that was left; All that you knew as
mortal and real-
Touching nothing but the soul of air

Hesitation of breath; Pausing to catch the
next breeze-
A watermark; A time piece of ancient
worlds-
Experiencing the language of the
artist lost- Gathering the intellectual
spices for future use-
Spreading them on the pallet of others

A golden key to the senses of pleasure;
Unlocked; Opened with the passing of only
a hand-
Echoes of the Elders; Chanting their visions;
Kneading the aftermath of the winter's kill-
Wearing the sorrow of the lifeless beast; Yet
so alive even in death-

When the blood red sunset fades quickly
into blackness- You lay at rest
at it's side- For the first time you
hear the thunder crash; See the lightning flash;
and feel the rain as it replenishes
the dry cracked edges of your
fingertips-
Your youthful eyes though weary and sore;
Will awake at dawn's first light-
You will embrace once again; All that
you've ever known to be mortal and real-
You will find the warrior; The soul
of man; And you will recognize
his face

© Lisa Hilbers
12/28/2005