As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

8- ❂❂ -VII

Descending down the city's terrac'd slopes

by dark of midnight's shadow on the land,

he comes to ride his horse by twilit morn

with madness overtaking ev'ry thought.

What reason hath he blindly to believe

the words of such a whore. It's obvious

she's trying to ensnare a man before

her babe is born—becomes a mouth to feed.

This harlot spinning lies and thinking he—

so kind and caring—just would acquiesce                10

t'accepting such responsibility

as she would lay on him whilst pressing on

with whoring—catching thrills and making coin

whilst he would be the one to raise a babe

that isn't his. What reason would he have

to care what happens to the demon child?

He catches here his thoughts are misalign'd,

remembering the order of events

that have occurr'd across his memories

by reaching for the flask upon his belt                20

and swinging back a swig to clear his head.

There was a demon infant, he recalls,

but from a diff'rent time; those sep'rate lives

from this so being made on these plateaus.

But if this thought is true—that who he is

is diff'rent from the two who came before—

then why doth now he ride this southern route

to warn the people of the coastal town?

Why should he care? Why should he bother with

this errand he hath set himself upon?                30

His mind is troubled twixt what's right and wrong;

his heart is plagued with memories that weigh

with good and bad and love and hate and wants

that twist his gut and wring his aching soul.

He rides throughout the day and nearly drives

his huffing horse to death ere he arrives

within the coastal town in but a day,

with sun to cast its setting amber on

the Sea and silhouette the ships at berth,

which cast the lengthy shadows of their masts                40

along the streets connecting to the docks.

He rides into the town and slows his pace;

he needs to call its council to relay

the news of the attack descending down,

and with his frantic thoughts the first that comes

to mind is Midwife, so that's where he rides