“Do you see, against the city setting,
roiling white clouds of terrible purpose;
from here, not but cotton dabbed in darkness?”

“It could scarce escape me as the day drains,
the glint of windows shook, reflected back;
like orphaned laughter so briefly sustained.
I can hear it at the ends of my hairs,
though the sound itself is too far away.”

“That sharp line dividing the horizon-”

“As if the sky had broken itself cleanly,
the seam rushing toward us high and above.”

“The path to here from there is far indeed,
the seed of hope that flowers before us
was meant to bring prosperity to light,
but found the air up here far too hostile.”

“Conflict is the only air we breathe.”

“Sure, but conflict alone wouldn’t kill it.
Where at first it writhed searching for recourse
it now thrives, a phoenix reborn.
Such horror, and yet beautiful ruin.”

“May its glory rise to outlive us all.
The impact should be around here, shortly.”

“Time enough to live with ourselves at last.”