Scratches On My Gravestone

| The Witch's Departure |

Dear God, bless her heart
As Pale Death rests her soul
Forgive her for vices she couldn't control

The smell was revolting
All burnt flesh and blood
Poor sinners were so harshly dragged through the mud
She looked through the strands of hair hiding her face
And saw a young man in a much higher place

She tried to smile
And show that she was alright
But her strength failed her

Vision turned black...

And then, white!

Applewood pierced her
A terrible sound
Was made as her life bled to the thirsty ground
Oil poured around her
She welcomed more pain
If she wished for anything
It would be for rain

Soon fire consumed her
Both inside and out
Cunningly weaving itself all about
Heat flamed in her heart
Licked the sides of her ribcage
Remained there in comfort
Unleashing its rage

Smoke and ash filled the air
The great fire roared, "Victorious!"
The tortured one found even breathing laborious
She painfully weakened
Again and again
'Til at last her screams died with her
And then–

Silence

The young man witnessed the end of this violence

Now, fingers wish to brush cheeks
Wet as the floor
But with tears
Not the blood of the one he adored
His lungs hold their breath
While pain shuts his eyes
Trembling lips hold back every heart-wrenching cry

His mind could attempt to unthink this demise
Refusing the ones out there selling goodbyes
Refusing this newness that he doesn't know
And nor does he care

Not really

No

For if it were needed
A need to be saved
Then that time has passed now and lies in its grave

He still can't believe it
Not her nor himself
Will not put away such a love on a shelf
A love not of lust or desire or romance
But a love that cries out to a god for a chance

A chance to remember
A chance to embrace
The smile that once lit up his mother's dear face
A smile that forgot what could not be forgotten
Her few sins so sadly and badly begotten

Why had she done it?

She never would tell

But resolved to burn for her sins, his as well

He prayed for a lover, a friend or a someone
To rob him of his life
To bring back his loved one
Her death was so radiant
A beautiful art
Made him watch her last breath tear them both apart

He heard something shatter
Found the heart of the matter
And wept just as her ghost began to depart