Only Thing Left

By Aithne Emmons

Flames creep over the edge of my face

Snow-tipped fingers keep them in place

Alexandria’s burning and all our hearts cry out for some peace

But still, the old woman continues to weep

-

Coloured-glass faces are cracking there is no escape

We walked hand-in-hand, but still, nothing is back in its place

Our children cry out but we hush them; smother a voice

But nothing is done to block out the terrible noise

-

Everything slowly, invariably shifting to grey

Smoke streams from fingers that once were okay

Your arm around me, my only comfort, holding me close

Someday even that will be taken from memory

-

The Earth splits apart, forgotten by all

Last glimmers of light from above now fall

The weight of the sky rests on the shoulders of a single soul

Attending a funeral for everything getting old

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Everything always, impossibly fading away

Blood streams from faces that tried so hard to say

Your breath on my cheek is my only solace, so never stop breathing

Someday even our hearts will turn to decay