When all the rivers ran south

When all the rivers ran south

I rarely sing now
merely hum the words
and allow myself to caress the space
between syllables I thought I'd heard

And yet I strive to tame the letters
Some say should be erased
Or left to high stakes bettors
Who’ve a better skill at twisting fate

North borne, tossed
Toward a half-formed sky
As a cynic’s choir
Butchers Brahms Lullaby
Does the world wish
It had another mouth
To form soft promises
Or fire devils out?

amen said the critic
amen said the shill
amen said a voice
from the corner of hell...