iv. away, away

after lamentations 4

How the gold has grown dim! 
How the brightness of everything now grows earthy 

and ashen! “Away, away,” 
sing the birds. “The beautiful things are scattered, 

boiled, eaten up.” Hurry, listen 
in your wandering, as your sightless eyes learn to see

once more. It has all changed. The kingdom 
is upside down, and the dying 

leaves of the tree heal 
the nations, jaundiced and brittle 

now, even as they drift towards the dust, 
even as you pray for the cup to pass 

by like the angel of death, 
even as you pray to be forgiven. 

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If you’re just joining in, read the preface essay to the lament series here. Thank you for being here with us today!