a literary journal

POETRY

Red by Morning

Light is breaking through the cracks,

the crawling king snake snaps his back,

his hollow heart was painted black 

upon the dust, the dirt, the track -

I choose the dagger in the back

while you play white and I play black

and Judas gives his warning.

The devil and the holy harp -

his strings, when struck,

carve blunt teeth sharp,

I’d linger on a black remark,

I’d start a fire from a spark,

knowing I’m no Joan of Arc;

I’m Judas in the morning.

Towers crumble to the ground,

the grinning child, his laughter drowned,

the texture of a single sound,

which Wednesday roars - he throws his crown,

he blows his horn, his foaming hounds

answer to his calling.

I don’t bleed

there is no need

the traitor’s turrets

fall for the freed 

stain the white walls

red by the morning.