Big Ben

Big Ben booms his melancholy song to the village

“Come back, come back,” a tug on each side

a shower of snowflakes on the cobblestone

some child’s footsteps in a lonely game of Tag

burning rooms dancing in a distant memory

sparks that fly like dragonflies to become stars

demons appear behind the garden hedges

grins wide and seductive, souls on the menu

“I’m coming to get you, coming to devour you”

the battle between illusion and reality hangs high

a boy’s smile stripped into naked navy clothes

revenge haunts every step in little boy shoes

frost-tipped petals line a road to the cathedral