Subtle Cruelty

"I have come"       Was the single word spoken       from he who stood before them. Ten blind archers, old, old,       flicked a finger and their arrows       spun up from the earth where they lay       to rest in the gnarling outstretched palms Beat bow sang,       the arrows took life and flew       straight through       the young old man before them. I am man       I am. A billion muzzles aim:       fire tip point in the darkness around before          beside               behind             and above him on the small circle of white He cringed against the wall that grew behind him, a spotlight in his eyes.       Murmurs of crowds assaulted his ears, Then a hush.       silence.       Ready             Balanced he stood, afraid to scream       Aim             Frightened he stood, afraid to cry       Fire A billion blasting breaking bullets             smashing, swishing,       filling the space around him with             living hot lead eager hungry             teeth of dragon's ire. The wall shook and splintered.       In his mind's eye he saw       the hungry lead eating his soul "I'm dead," he screamed in terror       as silence surrounded him. He trembled, afraid of what death looked like. He opened his eyes.             They'd missed.

-Edward Osenbaugh