Revelation

When the thousand years are over
Satan will be let loose from his dungeon.
- Revelations 19

Most thought her mad with her
Talk of devils and fallen angels
With black wings of rotten leather.
But she intrigued me and I was
Drawn to her by my own
Skulking curiosity.

I found her in her bedroom
Talking to the wall.
She said she was speaking with
Lucifer. She was fed up of screaming
In the dark and wanted him to go
Back to the fire.

She cursed the demons she saw
Behind her in every photograph on display
Moving in their flames behind her
Own stationary face.

We met again in the church.
She wanted sanctuary but found none
In the emptiness of the chapel’s belly.
She knelt by the altar
In submission to the invisible.

And clutched the glittering
Rosary beads hit by the sun
From the painted glass.
She grasped the miniature crucifix
So tightly as if she wanted it to
Pierce her skin like nails.
I asked her what she was waiting for.

The end of everything she said.