They gather, black
crows on the horizon,
the smoke of their fires
like terrible wings against the sky.
Their voices
reach you through the dust, hungry
with blood and fear and dread.
You are safe here, safe
like a babe asleep in a cradle
beneath a burning roof.
While the shadows stay on the horizon
you can dream of homecoming,
cover your ears against memories
and the long voice of night.
Dawn is coming.
Soon the smoke will die,
and the voices will rise,
and the heat will fall
cruel against your face. The sky
is the color of home
is the clear blue of sleep
is cold, clean and dustless.
Watch the sky play
on the steel of your sword.
Do not look up.
The crows are flying;
you cannot see the horizon.
Megan Arkenberg is a student in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her work has recently appeared in GlassFire Magazine, the Lorelei Signal, and The Heron’s Nest. She also edits the fantasy e-zine Mirror Dance.
8 Responses to “BEFORE THE WAR • by Megan Arkenberg”
Comments
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May 30th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I love the urgency of the voice. Nice work.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am
“the clear blue of sleep” – liked this, very nice.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Sharp, harsh and well written. I would like to know more about the background of this poem; more about the someone addressed who is unknown to the reader and why the voice of the poem is self-excluded from the threat.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Chilling tale. Liked the voice and flow, fit the subject well.
–dj
May 30th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Yes, I really liked this one.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I did, too.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I liked this poem very much, especially for the strong imagery.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 am
Great imagery and narrative. Cheers