for those who do not know - I apologise for the lines which are in place of gaps and also for the dashes, in place of indents. I hope they do not disrupt your reading of the poem. enjoy, Ax

bonds

i bow down

closing my eyes,

willing to see

beyond

--the words of reason

--to where the spirits dwell as

--tribal warriors dancing or

--ancient slaves building,

yet held not by chains

but by links of peace

and hated adoration

--stretching

across vacant valleys,

screaming high into the stars,

enduring the hell-flames

and seeping like a drug

into the bloody sea, rolling perpetually

in its restless sleep

--but still they run, as if excreted

--by the frantic waves

--tossing and tipping and turning until -

--they’re calm.

and rising above the tides, wide,

His spirit-horses gallop

chased by chasms of fire

and apocalypse after apocalypse…

but still

my eyes cannot see them,

no matter where i search –

so i must listen and feel and

wait, instead.