The Distant Dawn

The Distant Dawn

The earth had spun, a shadow covered all;
In darkest night I heard the darkness call:
'Who, who into my forest has withdrawn?
Who, who in vain awaits the distant dawn?'

I cowered by an oak, I softly cried;
I shivered, in the darkness nearly died;
I – listen! – heard the searching voice of death;
I froze – I held my ice-encrusted breath.

'Who, who in crippling fear awaits the day?
Who, who is but my trembling, infant prey?
Who, who has come to quake beneath my bower
And night's eternal, white-winged beast empower?'

I felt the presence of that wicked force!
I sensed how near and deadly was the source!
I urged myself, ‘Go! Do it, if you can!’ –
I found my legs, I paused, I tensed, I ran.

The silence of the night was ripped apart –
My heavy, wheezing breath, my thumping heart,
The twigs that broke beneath the thundering boot –
But worse, those shrieks of death in close pursuit!

I for a moment snatched a glance behind,
And – Horror! Horror! Death of all mankind! –
I saw the beast, its fateful wings outstretched;
Forever in my mind those eyes are etched.

Such was my fear, my legs no longer ran:
I stumbled, and my fall to earth began;
I felt the claws across my shoulders rip,
A cracking in my skull, awareness slip…

I do not know what happened to me then –
But when I found sweet consciousness again,
I lay alone, in winter-morning breeze,
The dawning sun still low beyond the trees.