Parousia
After the arrival of the lawless breed,
ancient unholy ones, empty eyed and silent,
seducing the daughters of men,
we forgave the devil and forgot the details.
Emperors of dark places, gods come down
from ships of clouds to deliver us from all
goodness, these giants among us, Nephilim,
fallen angels living among sinners, dancing
in flames. We wait weary and awake, gazing
beyond the windowpane, candle calling back
night. Return of one god or many, it doesn’t
matter. We shall greet them with praise and honor,
our daughters throwing flowers in their path,
rolling their hips and sighing as the sun sings.
Robin Shepard’s work has appeared in various journals. He is the author of two collections: Quiet Stars Falling Into Quicksand Memory (2017) and The Restoration of Innocence (2022). He lives in California’s great central valley.
After the arrival of the lawless breed,
ancient unholy ones, empty eyed and silent,
seducing the daughters of men,
we forgave the devil and forgot the details.
Emperors of dark places, gods come down
from ships of clouds to deliver us from all
goodness, these giants among us, Nephilim,
fallen angels living among sinners, dancing
in flames. We wait weary and awake, gazing
beyond the windowpane, candle calling back
night. Return of one god or many, it doesn’t
matter. We shall greet them with praise and honor,
our daughters throwing flowers in their path,
rolling their hips and sighing as the sun sings.
Robin Shepard’s work has appeared in various journals. He is the author of two collections: Quiet Stars Falling Into Quicksand Memory (2017) and The Restoration of Innocence (2022). He lives in California’s great central valley.
