And the silence slowly spread across the land
And the low light found itself in longing pretence
And a feeble foot cursed and cussed
As an unpleasant pain broke the silence of night
– the longing and words of woe
replaced by agony from head to toe

Agony! Agony!! Agony!!!

The pain a disproportionate punishment

Agony!

for a tepid tap of toe
on another foot of cold and chrome

a crushing blow

then a howl like a hurricane at dawn
as the brittle bone broke
or the unnourished nail knew
it no longer had a home.

Silence fell. Lights dimmed.
The lonely shadow hobbled
through
the night’s final embrace
towards a brighter morning
– of pain