Delayed Judgement

The cumulo-nimbus clouds crept up

From the South, preceding the dawn,

Under the cloak of darkness they

Arrived as the day was born,

The sun peered over the rim of the earth

And beamed its rays to the clouds,

While we of the feckless, reckless earth

Buried our dead in shrouds.

 

We buried our heads in the sand, I said

From the wars that nobody won,

But battered our ideologies

In the face of each daughter and son,

Though the right were wrong and the wrong were wrong

When the end was written in blood,

Just as the choices of man have bled

Since the seasons before the flood.

 

The clouds crept up on that terrible day

When the world, with bated breath,

Looked up to the skies for a warning

Would it be life for the world, or death?

The end of the Mayan Calendar

Fell due on that fateful day,

We felt the Mayans foretold the end,

The earth was passing away.

 

The sun beamed out of the cumulus cloud

That was drifting across the earth,

When a host that shone like a silver ray

Appeared like a miracle birth,

They lined the cloud, a million strong

Were seen by the weak and the bold,

And one shone brighter than all the rest

In a garment of purple and gold.

 

‘He’s come again, for the second time,’

We cried in our shock and awe,

‘The Judgement is nearly upon us,’ cried some,

‘You know what that means, it’s war!’

Some of us stood with our arms held high,

While others hid under a rock,

And then the barrages, into the sky,

Began, and they wouldn’t stop.

 

We watched as the rockets rose on high

And the planes took off like gnats,

Missiles and shells from the military fell

From the skies, in their futile attacks,

The Host of the Lord gazed down from the clouds

Untouched; we thought he’d escape,

Then one with a nuclear head went up

And the clouds became mushroom shaped.

 

‘The world has survived’ was the common excuse,

‘Mankind has a second chance,

Anything rather than Judgement,’ they said

Went back to their warlike plans,

While those with still a religious bent

Expectantly waited for Him,

They’ve murdered him twice, but still they rejoice

While awaiting the ‘Third Coming.’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Mockingbird]

very apocalyptic imagery. it's like the propaganda those doomsday people preach. i agree there will always be war, and that it is hubris for man to think he could conquer the host with his weapons of mass destruction. i say, 'dear lord, protect me from your followers.'

[Ravyne Hawke]

Indeed, if ever Jesus returned, I believe you've gotten it right, mankind would find any way to delay that moment of judgement. A very well written tale.

[patricia]

Absolutely loved this David. End of the Mayan Calendar? I think I was reading something about this last week, 23rd December 2012 was supposed to be the big day for the end of the world. (We wont have long to wait)

There is so much in your work to admire, not only your formats but content is always delivered in fascinating and catchy yarns. Loved it.

[Mary]

David, this is such an outstanding poem! In every way! Added to my favorites. "Anything rather than Judgement. "

[quinfinn]

it is written beautifully and in a wonderful metre which i find quite enjoyable. the story told within does not surprise me, as i am a bit of a cynic regarding "comings" but i love the way you played with man like he was an insignificant and tiny gnat.

[Becky C Strukamp]

An excellent tale in poetic form of the rising and falling. You've done it again David, another very outstanding write. thanks for sharing.

[kimmy]

There are so many people saying they know when the end will be here and really no on knows until that does come. I really enjoyed reading this poem, people get worried and try to change at the last minute but when it comes down to the time and nothing happens; many of them go right back to living the way they were before they thought it was the end.
You have said this just right, and I really liked it reading it. thank you:)

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the poem. I'm 1/2 Native American. I don't believe the death of earth will be easy. The Mad Max world will come first. Man will died slow and painful if we don't protect nature. I laugh at the people who feel they know dates and time. I enjoyed your tale. The third coming is coming? Thank you for the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chu..]

I appreciate the imagery and the personification depicted here. Much have been attributed to inanimate object as if it could breath while the mental pictures was well snap shot.

[Dayran]

If he was here David I think he'll rather you spoke well of man and the world. After all I don't think he'd wasted his time and devotion otherwise.

And you would too if the mysteries of Aussieland came to be understood by everyone... dolphins? melons? mushrooms? the voice of the rainbow? And don't respond with ' I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about.' I'm getting too much of that lately.