Sheltering from the sun in the shade of a long forgotten desert tree.
The tempestuous mirage before me, an angry ancient sea.

I watch as man and beast storm across its waters, leaving ripples in the sand.
A lion yawns and pants behind me, a new born lamb suckles at my hand.

The setting sun receding along with the phantom sea.
Its foaming turbulent waters replaced by buildings, as far as the eye can see

A toss of the lions head, his mane explodes with golden light.
For a fleeting moment i glimpse the truth before it fades from sight.

The lamb ambles toward the desert city and I hear a snap and a solitary word.
"Come" and for a split second I see a man as the lamb and lion blurred.

Then I saw approaching in the distance, a rider chased by a plume of billowing sand.
A king a top a pure white horse golden crowned and bow in hand.

Proclaiming his triumph over innocence and his mastery of sin.
The cities colonial masters cheer from their verandas while sipping ice tea and gin.

Another rider joins the first astride a blood red mount.
Quickly the cheers are silenced as the sounds of war surmount.

I witness brother fight with brother, then their own sons take one and another's life
The retreat of human madness from gun to sword then knife.

"A quart of wheat for a Denarius", a months wage for a loaf of bread
Like taking candy from a baby but the kid's already dead

Famine and starvation hold the city in its sway.
A horse as black as night arrives to meet the start of another hot desert day.

False prophets, plague and hunger roam each and every city street.
Trapped behind their own walls the citizens wilt in the oppressive heat.

Hades cold shadowy fingers are a relief to those to weak to care.
Death arrives a loft a pale mare to collect his quarter share.

I could still make out the cries of the martyrs as every fourth person died.
Then the world erupted leaving nowhere left to hide.

I can hear the angelic trumpets, announce the first of the seven plagues of wrath.
The global branding of the Antichrist and those that follow the devils path.

Red tide spreads through the oceans, seas as barren as the the desert sands.
Bloody water in the basin to wash a child's hands.

I hear the angels rejoicing as the sun sets the world alight.
Then I only see embers glowing in the night.

The climactic cacophony of Armageddon marks the beginning and end of world war three.
I watch it all, again and again from the shade of a long forgotten desert tree.