death’s train moves without sound passengers board without tickets or desire to reach the terminal unscheduled boardings are common nothing to do with fate or a late arrival at god’s outpost of salvation just a random event without purpose or ordained calling to god’s side recall god’s neutrality position on controlling our lives certainly raises questions for offering targeted prayers that aside death’s passagers either enjoy delusional dreams on their journey or a slow replay of their life’s events with a clear view out the window of their imminent arrival at the abyss
hands pressed against a cold window frame staring into the darkness recalling those below ancient decks with manacled hands and feet the smell of rotting flesh the sound of rusted chains reverberating a legacy of pain and sorrow wondering now about the future of those bound to tenements asking if their chains are not the same rusted chains of despair that still grasp and cut deep into the skin of humanity drawing new blood that mingles with the dried blood of their forefathers a thought interrupted by the rattle of windows as a train passes on the edge of the have and have nots
beneath the earth
the army of the dead
move in unison
to the rolling pitch
of the underground train
marching to the surface
passing the roach infested
dark alleys of shadow people
the ones who beg for alms
as the hollow souls scurry past
the army must stay its course
headed for their burial abodes
crypts of glass and polished steel
for they have bartered their souls
for transient wealth and fame
a bloodless coup of a nation
where only pleasures of the flesh
are considered worthy
but at night
curtains drawn
flickering news stories
of the anger
of those who sought alms
makes every shadow
move independently
on the walls
a creeping fear
that makes even
the dead
turn
in their
graves
This poem represents my final response to the third challenge series between Jade and I. This challenge is somewhat different in that the prompt is now an audio prompt. Each poet provides the other with five instrumental songs (so that the song’s words do not interefere with the poet’s) from which the poet is to write a poem. Jade has written her first response which can be found here.
Read Between the Minds 