empirical shadows and beautiful light

in the wake of death valley
a fragile night had cloaked
beyond the very glimmering
of the patchy stars
above

those guns blazed starkly
in a haunting rhythm,
thunderous clapping,
my head remained
amid a haven
as i covered

the noise ignited a chill which
ruffled my soul and
beckoned fear to rest with me
in the wake of death valley

i remember the screams,
recall how the silence wailed and yet
couldn't fathom
the terror at all
[not in the least]

younglings reached desperately
for anyone who gave them
the slightest hopeless glimpse,
sirens screeched the death toll
and i swear i saw the visage
of a reaper walking through

i will live there with you, my love
as a disentangled apparition...
there
in the wake of death valley