Prayers of the False Prophets

They came in the twilight of mourning.

Each dressed in soft woolen white.

Their songs had been heard

their prayers; their word

the people would follow by night.

They rose up and cried to the people.

"Kneel, or you will never know peace!"

Their message of fate, and of pleasure

and hate

brought the fearful down to their knees.

Their meandering prayers were shallow.

Wading low in their trivial tide.

they feared for the worst,

but could not have rehearsed



their horrors



the night that they died.