when the trains first came

verdant land life more than seen elsewhere
somewhere birds flute their rapid haunt
flower aroma allergy fresh
their words names i used to know

these the last trudging heavy miles
walking home from thirty years’ adventure
i’ve fought built won lost the lot
all i have is god and memory

i stop inhale the edge the old estate
the childhood familiar buildèd hills
wild life recreated raced replaced
old monster trees lost forgot

the real change human made felt
people live more smoke mechanical
cities rip a rush run panic
dreary no stranger charm–chat

i’ve found life’s guide doubt’s fey
no mock threat manipulation no selfish abuse
this holy book unwraps all worlds
described dissected diagnosed

find somewhere hidden symbols see
discover compulsion underdrive
no need for sinners’ understanding
the book tells judges i retribute

here shafts strait–jacket shock me
these tors these childhood joke and tumble hills
these history halls rent by satan
hades’ sulfic smoke arises

vents bricked dug to torment
risen fumes drift sins’ infection
i see entry horizontal distant
a road descent weak to darkness mine

i’ll walk cast godstun light
face rent the conjurers’ challenge
follow grounded iron lines to sinner doom
guide me their hopeless hearth

i crunch walk stride dark echopath
the beast squeals knows me here
it comes roars i stand immortal
“halt” i shout “a man of god is stood…”