Apocalypse

JOHN’S APOCALYPSE
IS NOT SOME FUTURE THING
HOOF BEATS IN THE DISTANCE

HE WROTE IT FOR NOW
HIS NOW
AND ALL THE NOWS
TILL NOW

WHEN IF EVER
HAVE THE FOUR HORSEMEN
BEEN CORRALLED

HAVE WE ANY LACK OF LEADERS
MARCHING TO VICTORY
ON THE BROKEN BODIES
OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES
ON A SPIRITED WHITE HORSE

SAYING TO THE WOUNDED
AND THOSE LEFT ORPHAN
AND WIDOWED
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE

AND THEN HIDING THEM
AS SOMETHING EMBARRASSING

HE DID NOT MIND THE CARNAGE
OR DESTRUCTION

HE LEFT THAT
FOR THE RED HORSE
AND ITS RIDER

WHO RODE THROUGH A FOREST
OF BROKEN TREES
DECORATED WITH ENTRAILS

ON LAWN
COLORED RED WITH BLOOD

PAST PILES OF BONES

PAST BLIND PEOPLE
VICTIMS OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE

MOTHERS KILLED SON
AND FATHERS DAUGHTERS
THE OLD NEGLECTED
AND THE INFIRM LEFT

NO ONE WAILED
BECAUSE NO ONE CARED

THOSE WHO WERE LEFT
THE HAVES
AND THE HAVE-NOTS

WHERE SOON BESIEGED
BY THE WHITE HORSE
AND ITS RIDER

AND A VOICE CRYING


A QUART OF WHEAT
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND THREE QUARTS OF BARLEY
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND DO NOT DAMAGE
THE OIL AND THE WINE

THOSE WHO EAT WELL
WILL STILL
EAT WELL

THOSE WHO DO NOT
WILL BARELY SURVIVE

DIVES WILL DINE IN STYLE
BUT LAZARUS
WILL DINE WITH THE DOGS

THEN COMES PESTILENCE
ON A PALE GREEN HORSE

CRYING BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

WELL IN THE MORNING
STIFF AT NIGHT

ANIMALS RAID GRAVEYARDS
FOR THE MEAT

VULTURES CANNOT FLY
BECAUSE OF GLUTTONY

GOD WEEPS IN HEAVEN
FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS CREATION

THIS IS NOT MY WILL

HOBBLE THE HORSES

THE POETIC VISION OF JOHN
IS IF MEN DO NOT CHANGE

I WILL IT SO
MY WILL BE DONE

DO WE SAY IT MECHANICALLY
OR DO WE MEAN IT

WE ARGUE ABOUT ANGELS ON A PIN
AND DO NOT HEAR THE CRY FOR CHANGE

ARE WE HYPOCRITE IN OUR PRAYERS

THE THUNDER OF HORSES
IS ALL AROUND US
IT IS OUR TASK
TO CORRAL THEM

FRANK A VOLLMER