Witness to the carnage
After several long hours I opened my eyes
and found myself lying next to a wounded dog.
It was nice, the dog was more injured than me.
For otherwise, despite all those rotten limbs
I was as good as a heap of cheap animal meal.
So two heaving bodies lay side by side
with pain-deadening hunger; with hunger-deadening pain.
Flashes of lightning often returned like spasms
tearing apart the sky in countless amber fissures.
More tired than scared, I again closed my eyes
dreaming of peace, of blunted rapiers and patinaed urns...
.......... the dog moaned no more, I felt disturbingly alone.
In all that acrid stench I could feel a distinct presence,
a stillness in my blood; a pull in the marrow
then a hand on my hand that was colder than mine.
With unnatural effort, I again opened my eyes
and smiled at Death who was leaning over me.
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