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.