how could mankind have ever known
that the end of the damned world
would be so beautiful

in every nation across the globe the
streets were alive with dancing
men and women

by day everybody fucked and drank
and climbed mountains
but not by night.

at night the sky became an abstract painting
of dazzling unutterable beauty
etched upon a dark canvas

death had chosen to wear a gorgeous
mask when it arrived in the sky:
lovely and sublime

a diamond half the size of the moon
was the agent of our demise
as we just stared

how the hell could we do anything else
but stare in wonder at what was
a goddam miracle

every color and hue every geometric shape
wheeled and exploded overhead
crystal refractions

the gigantic latticed asteroid fell down
and the sun shone through it
and we just gaped.

the last night was fuckin' kaleidoscopic
and instead of panic or fear there was
silence and reverence

so glorious was the end when it came that
every eye was riveted upon it
and every heart full

and then humanity was gone away to eternity
without malice without fear
without regret.



© W.G. Myers