The radiance of evil
burns the world down
to a fine white ash.
It settles on your hair
and eyelashes. You
breathe it in, you
taste it on your tongue.
You don’t know who
has been burned
but you are part of it.
You walk in ashes,
you find them in your
pockets, you rub them
out of your eyes. The streets
are deep with ash.
Women weep
behind high walls
until the air is thick
with grief. You
have not lifted
a finger. You fear
you will never
be clean again.
—
Mary McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, studied art and literature but spent most of her working life as a Registered Nurse. She has always been a writer. She has great hopes for the future despite the horrors reported endlessly in the daily news.
Powerful and beautiful.
Excellent! Very powerful.
Thank you Michele
Leaves me cold around the heart.
Hell, captured.
Thanks, Tony, Michele, Sherry, and Ron. It is a vision of hell, sadly, a hell here on earth-
I enjoyed this immensely!
Very vivid, powerful poem! I love this poem!
Thanks Trish and Robin, Glad you enjoyed it!
A very powerful and visual poem that speaks to what is happening in our world today. Beautiful work, Mary.
Thanks Mary, I appreciate your reading and commenting. Though the topic is harsh, this is one I am proud of.