Patrick Theron Erickson’s most recent poem to appear here was “Stepping Out” (September 2018).

Farewell
By Patrick Theron Erickson

He scatters the bones
of those who encamp
against you

and as an added bonus
makes them swizzle sticks
to stir his heady brew

the cup of his wrath
which they must drink down
to the dregs

but not as a drink offering
mind you

drunk on blood
and still bloodthirsty

no not as an acceptable
sacrifice

but as polluted streams
spew forth their filth

and cannot be contained
by dike or levee

or be dammed up
and not seep into the groundwater

and be a sieve
and so pollute us all

And so goodnight
good day

farewell fond friends

farewell.