Middle Earth



by Pavel Chichikov

Three worlds at once, three worlds at once

Three separate fates in three domains

War at once and war forever

Between the humble and the clever

One world behind a temporal wall

Where innocent and golden elves

By magic and mutation fall –

Goblin ugly love themselves

Like a ring their love returns –

Where envy clutches, there it burns

Around the fingers, in the fists

Of wizards, ghouls and scientists

Or others who were comely once

Depart to futile endlessness –

Their only magic is glance

Across the ramparts of the west

Another world, another land

Men of power more or less

Soldiers, peasants, artisans –

Lavish pride is cold undressed

Where none are living, all are dead

And never have a need of bread

Shadows in a sunless place

Who have a name but not a face

Here's the third, another time

Where you and I endure a crime

For we have murdered love and left

Him crucified and still unwept

Here there is no magic ring

No wizardry, no spell to sing

Only pain without redress

Regret and sorrow, more or less

Where elves are cripples, power rules

The innocent and other fools

And He who gave His breath to save

Was hustled to an early grave

These three worlds may intersect

Through power of the intellect

Where mood and magic reach and move

But which is under, mid, above?

Now listen carefully, I saw

A woman walking through a street

Confused, a trail of bloody feet

She'd stuffed her broken shoes with straw

Thought she knew where heaven was

Could walk from here to there to find

A bridge of gold and brazen doors

But that was her disordered mind

Wait with me where stillness shows

That every level is the same

The only question is your name

At dawn of daylight you will know

You will see Him, recognize

That which binds you to His eyes

Every universe the same

The only question is your name

Visit Pavel's website at Grey Owl Press.

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