I swim away with the light of fire and ice.

UNDER FIRE AND ICE BY MICHAEL MAHONEY 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 20

The inheritance of the meek

is plundered by rapacious men.

Promise is green,

then dried wheat;

like the last swim under a fire and ice sky.

Drying in the reflection,

regret

is

the image.

And dressing in an indistinct future,

cries of longing

drown out memories, love, and melodious

tongues.

Every …