From Ashes

By M.J. Rowe

When Death is near – a reminder of life

It makes me weep and feel humble inside

I see your face as it comes rushing back

but all that remains is wrapped in black

This world of prisoners is cold and gray

They live suspended in time this way

– God forbid that one would stray –

The alleys of the swirling dust

inside this city of filth and lust

where rains come falling from buildings above

to help one hide from the faces of love

Truly night has fallen away

and left these bones exposed to the day

from the alley of cold hard stone

a soul is formed from pain alone

Though I’ve traveled all this way

there seems nothing left but my own decay

the wind swirls dust into my face

it mixes with tears I cry in disgrace

Touch me, feel me, have I died inside?

Where does one go to recover pride?

I know this prison – unreal as a play

could take my life on any dark day

I move through these alleys – dust in my eyes

It mixes with memories – and then I sigh

Once from the light we all did hide

but we never gave up – and we didn’t die

This city of alleys, of stench and death

was created to stop what hope we had left

all is ashes in this city of loss

for prisoners don’t stand at the foot of the cross

One day from the ashes

A cricket may sing

and take me back

to greater things

So I drape my coat closer still

and move away from the gray window sill

In this city of stench and death

I at last taste hope upon my breath

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