Journeyers

A poem inspired by "The Great Day of His Wrath", a painting by John Martin

The journeyers stream round and round: I stand alone enrapt
The reds and blacks are falling fighting
Reds left blacks right they’re wrapped and falling
In my foreground the pleas of please: come back to me
His anger erupts now and gates begin to close
Gates the gates the train wrecks like river flows
I, we see distances yet, but eye are resigned and calm
The crowd is rushing waiting knowing gates are closing eyes to alms
I must remember now, in seas of reds and blacks and trees of skylight
I step across so sure and proud, their eyes upon me
I step forward, away, to fates unknown, loathsome pride beside me alone