Vermillion Landscapes .. .                                                                                               

It settles on a tree near a hostel
which holds a perfect view
of her hill called serenity from
where seven, cold rivers run
this white bird flew, one of two
a pair of ermine gyr-falcon
when sun-haze had lifted off its lay
ethereal and o’ so quiet
those birds forever circling
closer than the death of night
beige, soft bellied reflections
illuminate her moon-flecked flight

a herd of grazing, golden antelope
blushed of rhubarb sun
where lions sleep at night
deep friends upon the Serengeti
beneath vermillion sky layered
a child’s angel cake with creme
which cake is shined by sandstone light
an eggy, coppered glow
burrowed stains, stretched taught
‘cross nature’s plains that thinkers stow
animals there are my lucid thoughts
they travel on like circus cheetahs

fanfared soldiers exposed of duty rigour
awake to sounds of bloody terror
metal armadillo’s in a line advance
toward vermillion hills of splendour
orange-red, the chaplains have arranged
the dead according to their size
lest by subterfuge they disrespect
their surrender ‘neath cinnabar skies
the generals, commanders, captains
propagate their putrid red disguise
it is always the innocent who die
or dying, be blushed of leader’s lies

vermillion tunics of men who desired
freedom from tyranny of their race
not every garter, armband worn
is apposite to order – some do rebel
whether cloistered of the arctic sun
crying birds or dancing springbok
faint hooves may skip on Yahweh’s
forgotten graves most every nation hides
till orange streaks of blanket sea roll east
those sands of time desist
to squander one more useful life
another raped wife or infant dying

  ©edenbraytoday18.10.2022