SandScript 2020

Liber Somnia
Reno Roethle
POETRY
it rained in hell, awoken from a dream
the white creature stood before the trench
arms outstretched toward pale sky, a pillar
of light reached down through cracked overcast
from the breach, molten steel poured heavy
engulfing the hole where he’d slept
a monster survived that day, to plunge the world into darkness for a second time, Herr Wolf
his mother saw a ghostly figure
as if dreaming, her son waved goodbye
his arm hanging by skin, “look mother”
it swung like a marionette
before the shell struck, premonition
he said, “I saw my mother standing there”, on the field of Verdun
in shock, he ran, a mortar exploded where he’d stood
a young soldier, The Great War
a woman in dark red gown
at the Battle of Nations, magnificent crown and golden mantle
face sorrowful, looked down with sad eyes
upon a white eagle she clasped to her bosom
facing death, he prayed, beholding her beauty the Battlefield Apparition of the Virgin Mary
she took his pain away and promised him home
Polish soldier, 1813
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