As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

8- ❂❂❂ -XIII

By morning's dark and hanging strands of fog

so lit about their haze by brazier's light,

the Chaplain stands upon a platform in

the centre of th'acropolis beside

a mess of wooden wreckage piled up—

the likes of which his clergy, at behest

of his, constructed only yesternight.

The flock is congregating all around

his makeshift dais standing in the square

(including Author in behind the crowd)                10

with torches here and there among these folk

to light the dark in splotches flickering,

and even Chancellor hath now arriv'd,

descending with his seat in parliament

upon the shoulders of a loyal crew

to sit above the heads of all the crowd

and meet the Chaplain level, face to face.

Zoom'd out it's possible to see the crowd—

enamour'd with the presence of the man

attach'd to this event—grow into streets                20

like limbs of such a terrible of beasts,

orating with its ev'ry particle

unanimous acclaim for th'one it waits

so eagerly to host inside itself,

not once deliberating over th'words

entrancing it, despite that they may from

such evil come if only it'd observe

saliva's venom touch drip from his maw.

Yet still the Chaplain's lauded with their praise,

and as there's no one in particular                30

he's waiting for, the Chaplain now begins

by raising single hand up off his cane

to hold as long as possible with his

decrepit body's balance wavering

until he needs to place it down again.

But what he needed of the crowd is done,

for silence overtakes the flock around,

allowing that his voice—still loud and strong—

is heard by all who're at this sermon held

this morning, which for reasons devious                40

hath he decided t'hold out in this square.

When all the eyes around are on his form

the Chaplain deigns to speak unto the flock:

"I'm sure you all are wondering at why

this sermons' being held in such a place

as this irregular location on

this morn instead of in my chapel's walls.

I'll tell ye why I've gather'd all today

within this centre square: this is a call!