The Guillotine

Every night, the same vision
Persisting amongst swirling lights
Wind tearing through houses
The Fates reading our last rites.

I awake in a cold sweat
Inhale deep, exhale slow,
Try to calm myself
Try to ignore the crow.

This morning feels off
Something dark hangs in the air
I can already hear the sirens
And the neighbors in prayer.

I gaze out the window
and to my utter shock
The winds from my dream
Rip through houses without a knock.

Every single night I've run away
From the guillotine over us
And though I may regret it
He really isn't worth the fuss.

I take my cat and run
Leaving my father behind
The winds pick up their pace
His death certificate seems signed.

We cower together 
Hoping to be spared
Should I have brought him too?
Should I have cared?

Visions from beyond
Keeping me alive
Maybe an unfair warning,
Maybe intuition overdrive.

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Image: Unsplash - Airis Noyer

This piece was written for day 3 of the Halls of Pandemonium challenge put on by Bradley Ramsey.

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