Behold the death of regal dusk 

Foretelling awe of dawn.

Secret joys and callous mourning

Buried by the crickets’ song.                                              

 

Ash wood embers fiercely hot,                                           

Flames lick the dewy night.

Spirits fill an empty head.                                                  

The battle’s lost, but not the fight.

 

Demons linger at the gate

Coyotes howl and whine.

Temptation, fear and abstinence 

Fall prey to false sublime.

 

Sirens sing their lulling songs                                             

The prince cannot resist,                                                    

A cold, hard sword of self-deceit

Jabbed deep within his chest.

 

Brave bold knight called Recompense, 

Stands guard his flippant Lord                                            

A guileful wretch of meager worth                                    

In deaf-blind haste was born.                                       

 

The woe of sinful lust dispatched,

Sunlight’s golden hue is cast,

Refreshed and blessed and bittersweet,

Freed from self and free at last

 

Behold the pithy wake of dawn,

Bereave the despot's fling.

Songbirds take to lovely wings

to weary eyes, awakening.