JOHN’S APOCALYPSE
IS NOT SOME FUTURE THING
HOOF BEATS IN THE DISTANCE
HE WROTE IT FOR NOW
HIS NOW
AND ALL THE NOWS
TILL NOW
WHEN IF EVER
HAVE THE FOUR HORSEMEN
BEEN CORRALLED
HAVE WE ANY LACK OF LEADERS
MARCHING TO VICTORY
ON THE BROKEN BODIES
OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES
ON A SPIRITED WHITE HORSE
SAYING TO THE WOUNDED
AND THOSE LEFT ORPHAN
AND WIDOWED
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE
AND THEN HIDING THEM
AS SOMETHING EMBARRASSING
HE DID NOT MIND THE CARNAGE
OR DESTRUCTION
HE LEFT THAT
FOR THE RED HORSE
AND ITS RIDER
WHO RODE THROUGH A FOREST
OF BROKEN TREES
DECORATED WITH ENTRAILS
ON LAWN
COLORED RED WITH BLOOD
PAST PILES OF BONES
PAST BLIND PEOPLE
VICTIMS OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE
MOTHERS KILLED SON
AND FATHERS DAUGHTERS
THE OLD NEGLECTED
AND THE INFIRM LEFT
NO ONE WAILED
BECAUSE NO ONE CARED
THOSE WHO WERE LEFT
THE HAVES
AND THE HAVE-NOTS
WHERE SOON BESIEGED
BY THE WHITE HORSE
AND ITS RIDER
AND A VOICE CRYING
A QUART OF WHEAT
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND THREE QUARTS OF BARLEY
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND DO NOT DAMAGE
THE OIL AND THE WINE
THOSE WHO EAT WELL
WILL STILL
EAT WELL
THOSE WHO DO NOT
WILL BARELY SURVIVE
DIVES WILL DINE IN STYLE
BUT LAZARUS
WILL DINE WITH THE DOGS
THEN COMES PESTILENCE
ON A PALE GREEN HORSE
CRYING BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
WELL IN THE MORNING
STIFF AT NIGHT
ANIMALS RAID GRAVEYARDS
FOR THE MEAT
VULTURES CANNOT FLY
BECAUSE OF GLUTTONY
GOD WEEPS IN HEAVEN
FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS CREATION
THIS IS NOT MY WILL
HOBBLE THE HORSES
THE POETIC VISION OF JOHN
IS IF MEN DO NOT CHANGE
I WILL IT SO
MY WILL BE DONE
DO WE SAY IT MECHANICALLY
OR DO WE MEAN IT
WE ARGUE ABOUT ANGELS ON A PIN
AND DO NOT HEAR THE CRY FOR CHANGE
ARE WE HYPOCRITE IN OUR PRAYERS
THE THUNDER OF HORSES
IS ALL AROUND US
IT IS OUR TASK
TO CORRAL THEM
FRANK A VOLLMER
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