ah, those people

kneeling in a circle of light

and the feather-crown beast

came and sat

and waited and

thought a bit

then broke the circle

and spilled the people

then fled

another temple desecrated.

part of me wants

to have known

to have been there

to have cried out

a warning this time.

but i was not

but i was

but i am

but please hear me say

it is coming

it is gone

my heart rings like a stone bell

and you all, in the circle of light

i’m crying and you don’t hear me

and that is as it is

but i am here

and the clack-clack bird is flown

and we remain

and you remain

and the circle of light still shines

and i am crying for you out here in the dark