by Jeffrey Meyers

The acid age twists in its savage state

The slaughter of Armenia at Lake Van

His mother starving died within his arms

His ancestors’ remains lived far away

The flux of childhood, biting memories

The devastation of his damaged youth.

Crystals formed subtle patterns of pure light

The scent of apricots captured his mind

The dark enigma of nostalgic thoughts

The sunset battles with malicious gods

His dreams were both embittered and surreal

The tragic knowledge etched his life away.

The cherry trees secured against the hares

Swift waters drowned the field mice in the field

The flutt’ring guiltless doves tracked down and killed

The shrunken wolves ran swiftly through the woods

The sun’s an evil dervish in the clouds

His own weak cry pierced by the owl’s wail.

The shack burned down and with it all his work

A car crash left him frozen for a year

A gut-bag hung mephitic from his side

His close friend stole away his faithless bride

His mind was like the red cock’s jagged comb

Goodbye My Loveds said the hangman’s note.