Harbinger Of Doom

Harbinger Of Doom
© Surazeus
2024 10 30

Collected stories of the Lonely Clown, 
sold at the festival outside of town, 
reveal strange tragedy of the Blind King 
who tries to buy Immortality Ring 
forged in the fires of Hell by Lucifer 
who admires his fierce father Jupiter. 

Leaning against bent sign that spells Dead End, 
the Lonely Clown waits for his secret friend 
across the street from the old bungalow 
where humble descendant of Cicero 
barbecues steak for the whole neighborhood 
who dance where the Irminsul tree once stood. 

Slow airplane glides across sun-burnished sky, 
attempting to detect soul of the spy 
who gives the Lonely Clown thick dossier 
on Sad Girl who sings at the cabaret 
because he wants to know her secret name 
so he can purchase Medallion of Fame. 

Yet Crippled Ballerina knits clean socks 
for Voiceless Mermaid lounging on glass rocks 
who almost dies in stale hospital room 
when she miscarries Harbinger of Doom 
who proclaims the Lonely Clown world messiah 
though everyone mocks him as mad pariah. 

Convenient mirror of the fractured mind 
reflects state of the world Allah designed 
in bold attempt to solve the cosmic joke 
with earnest sermons for the common folk 
who sing in harmony with desert wind 
that scatters letters mothers wish to send. 

Inside trunk of the oak tree on Skull Hill 
the time-expanding Clock of Divine Will 
commissions the Lonely Clown with grand quest 
to find out where the sun goes in the west 
so he travels forward ten thousand years 
till his son invents car engine with gears. 

After glamor of our state falls apart 
I charge inner resources of the heart 
with quick electric spell of honest prayer 
to make ways of our world more just and fair 
for every nameless ghost who wears my face 
since no one ever wins the money race. 

Standing nervously at the podium 
as people gather in the odeum, 
the Lonely Clown drinks water from the well 
that bubbles from all broken hearts in Hell, 
then reads his novel to the reverent crowd 
about secret code written on the shroud.