Dinosaur
I watched the Dinosaur crawl from the bowels of the mountain
We heard the rumble as it climbed up from the bony bed, from the rock,
Into the cold sunlight, between the pillars of ancient Gods it ambled,
swaying its horned head from left to right.
There, arrayed in glory, gored in red, incensed
It held the world in thrall,
but
Behind the glittering eyes, beneath the towering dome,
The snakes entwined like lovers and the shadows between consume
In awe, we are meant to fall beneath the lumbering feet
crying like the lost, praying for escape, calling for Mercy, mercy, mercy....
The Dinosaur hears, but it does not listen,
For it owns wisdom, is the father of time
and we are not its equal.
Fear is the fire it breaths, fear is the flap of cardinal wings
on a stealthy breeze
Fear is the mitred crown upon that flaming head.
Fear is the wisdom it will not share
It does not love us, it will not save us. It wants to eat us up,
with a smile
This monster from antiquity, thrums in anachronistic sinergy
If we looked away it would become extinct
We watch the Dinosaur crawl out.
We will watch it crawl back down
We will sigh and turn away, if we escaped....
How many souls will it consume today?
How many more times must we endure this worm,
canned, vatted, packaged like a treat,
Emerging from behind the wall,
In search of souls to eat?
The Dinosaur exists
We give it wings. We pay its rent and board
From the day we are born, to the day we die
It feeds upon us and
outlives us all.
And when at last, we see the smoke and mirrors,
Will it be too late, for recompense?
Or will the Dinosaur, replete, immortal and so very content
Sit back upon its crusty haunches, and belch?
By Carey Lenehan
© 2005 Carey Lenehan
(All rights reserved)
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