Auguries

In a far dark desert Roses bloom
carved from a brittle sand
Each to it's own weave
Pattern and grain
Lustre and hue
Brought to form and being
in a wind from high dunes
to flash in a morning Sun

The Mariner sets his course
hard by the North Star
Where ocean meets stooping sky
the last tide turns
This low running boat spins
Sails rent and shredded
A last uncharted run made
to end on cold rocks

Cowled Seers and Sages
stand to watch the Sun rise
Giving prayers for life's warm glory
What dreams flower in the mind
as light bestows it's benediction
Where is this immutable truth
sought in song and saga
from age to storied age

From the deep darkness of caves
They emerged to a grim march
on a plain of stones
With bannered sigils flowing
in forgotten legions of dust
These soldiers of destiny
stepped in ranks of fury
to a bitter and futile death

In darkened alcoves
penitents bend and kneel
to statues and golded clerics
muttering imploring imprecations
to a man portrayed a Saviour
and spun from Alters high
Down all these fervent years
the answer has been silent

The bonecaster kneels and casts
The bones at random fall
Destiny turns in the Sun
What auguries sing in the wind
as the pattern is revealed
In time's great eternal wheel
dreams spin and fall
to the end