09-07-2023, 08:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-07-2023, 08:58 PM by TranquillityBase.)
Astral Stampede
The star drover
surmounted the empty black shoulder
of a glowing ridge
gazed down into the sparkling arroyo
that marked the edge of the range in light years.
Red and gold dust settled thick on his nape,
he let the circuitry of his reins go loose
and the solid bulk of his midnight mare
shook its head against the interrupted dark.
Softly lowing orbs moved expectantly
on the smoking plain behind
nuzzling the sinking phosphor light, candle grass
like flames spread thin on the deep blue and airless void.
The star drover expected no stutter of trouble
or fire working dragon
to poison the lymph clear night
as his calloused palm rubbed the knuckles
of his other hand in prayer.
Suddenly he caught the skip and stare of fire
out of the corner of a last word
and grabbed for his rocketing whip
even before the screaming brand had seized an infant star.
Like a rain of lightning
his wary herd was instantly burning into a roaring river
the crack of his green flared whip
a bare whisper in his ear.
The fear maddened, dire falling herd
streamed across the drowning night sky.
His startled mare was hurled against those ceaseless waves
and the star drover and his mount went down
before the glassy hell of the stampede.
The star drover
surmounted the empty black shoulder
of a glowing ridge
gazed down into the sparkling arroyo
that marked the edge of the range in light years.
Red and gold dust settled thick on his nape,
he let the circuitry of his reins go loose
and the solid bulk of his midnight mare
shook its head against the interrupted dark.
Softly lowing orbs moved expectantly
on the smoking plain behind
nuzzling the sinking phosphor light, candle grass
like flames spread thin on the deep blue and airless void.
The star drover expected no stutter of trouble
or fire working dragon
to poison the lymph clear night
as his calloused palm rubbed the knuckles
of his other hand in prayer.
Suddenly he caught the skip and stare of fire
out of the corner of a last word
and grabbed for his rocketing whip
even before the screaming brand had seized an infant star.
Like a rain of lightning
his wary herd was instantly burning into a roaring river
the crack of his green flared whip
a bare whisper in his ear.
The fear maddened, dire falling herd
streamed across the drowning night sky.
His startled mare was hurled against those ceaseless waves
and the star drover and his mount went down
before the glassy hell of the stampede.