Thumping its footsteps of lead
history is at your heels
it won’t relent
won’t let you gain ground
it never takes a break
for it moves in circles
doling out it cycles
of mixed blessings and hurt
to us, the ungrateful and unwary
unpredictable,
not a straight line
nor elliptical
and even less
a twisted ladder
or a spiral
history won’t tango with you
two steps forward one back
it will breathe on your neck
its dragon fires
and when it burns you
few’ll be the tears shed for your scars
few are the eyes that won’t be averted
like storms aglow with frenzy
watch the temporarily unscathed
rush off to random roads
to unload their collective bafflement
and dread in a mighty downpour
on seemingly safe havens
but knowing, in their hearts
of hearts, that they too shall be next.
Benicia, 23 November 2024