HE KNEW

 His every bloody cough.

His every breathless gasp.

He regretted his double cross.

His end was soon.

And so he knew.

 

The lord of death arrived.

“To free him of pain.”

“To free him of his sins.”

As the mighty said.

A trap was set.

And so he knew.

 

The blurry line sharpened.

Between righteousness and sin.

Between ice and fire.

Between love and hate.

Between destiny and desire.

 

He fought and argued,

With the ultimate truth.

All went blank for a while.

All was white.

His place lay in hell.

And so he knew.

With him was the spouse.

Forever allied.

And his youngest,

By his side.

This was real.

This was true.

And so he knew.

 

With every mighty push.

He begged and cried.

A deal was decided.

The final test of right.

To live true and wise.

 

And so he knew,

His end was soon.

If not now.

-Manya Singh Patel