3316. DICE (1099)

DICE (1099)

Shadow into seeming; dark night into Death.

The staggering leap of fire and heat, the jump

across the divide, the lime beneath the feet.

All, all, all for nothing at all. I watch the crusaders,

boot-blacks and lancers, wriggle their way past truth

and consequences. The pole that pierces someone's

heart holds not mine but another. I waltz across

the history zone, in silent, secret reverie, too tired,

as it is, to scream or flinch. Shadow into seeming;

dark night into this. The blackbird yelling, the jackdaw

dense, the Jesus of the image on the banner, now

afire, burns to dust and ashes on a brittle field of want.

(All, all, all for nothing at all).