Walking with Ghosts

Palm Sunday 1461 (Part ii)

'Of Banners and Bodies'

My eyes transgress, or my mind does thicken

with the magic of sub-conscious deceit,

for what is this that lies before my feet?

Rigid to the spot I stood

limbs like roots of wood,

mouth agape, air, sickly sweet,

tainted the throat and tinged

the tongue with the taste

of a bloodied fate.

I began to gag in disbelief

as my heart beat faster

an unwilling witness to the aftermath

of a human disaster.

For where should’ve been my car

lay quietus amid the detritus of war,

swords like crosses, cankered round

carcasses rotting by the score…

Everywhere…Bodies, bodies, bodies…thousands all around

so many, it was hard to distinguish what was ground.

Like crimson idols, laid in death’s repast

faces froze in the horror of their last.

Eviscerated entrails, heads and limb

Arrow-shafted horse

and bloodied banners

cracking on a chill winter wind.

High above, clouds began to swirl

faster and faster began to curl

into a vortex of jet-black ink

which began to sink

toward the ground

in ethereal sound…

until

A bomb-burst of black winged scavengers.

Jackdaw, Raven, Rook and Crow,

in unison cawed

as descended the black snow

of natures butcher horde.

It was as if all the carrion in the land

had come to feast on this banquet so grand.

By all that is sacred this cannot be,

What sin did I commit to behold such misery?

A raven laughed a beady black laugh

mocking me from his high throne of blight

as his bloodied scythe disgorged an eye

from a socket no longer needed for sight.

I sank slowly amidst blood red sludge,

eyes shutting out the horror

that sent my soul screaming

and sanity seeking sanctuary

from these images that would not budge.

Time had lost itself to my comprehension,

courage, crept slowly forth and forced

open one eye with some apprehension.

I heard a larks song raised in the sky

sweet and long…opened the other eye…

The vision was gone…

Overwhelmed with shocked relief

and an uneasy sense of grief.

I began to retch on all fours,

dispensing phlegm filled fears

cheeks, streaming with saline tears

I sought to get my breath

and forget the images of death

eyes closed enjoying the clean air refrain

filling my lungs with the confidence

to question my sanity once again…

When I felt something cold ‘neath my chin?

Startled eyes shot wide

a scream stifled and died…

as my heart took residence where

my larynx should’ve been…

and after all I’d seen… Oh my lord!

The only thought

as I stared in disbelief at the sword

at my throat…

P Williams ©2005