A thud!

Garbled nattering, blurred gathering
Barbed badinage.

Ground the smell of sour grain and stale bread
Blinded by grime, gravel bites
Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!
Footsteps dashing past, dust billowing out
Tee-hee!

Gray dark sky scudding
Thousand silver threads
Celestial flame
Parched ground

Redemption!

Garbled nattering, clear gathering
The passage, solemn sea
Soft, hushed voices
Silence.

Cheers!