my eyes sees the light
my eyes is the light
the light emerges from inside of me
the light is my soul
my soul is the temple
the temple is where the light resides
the light is god
god is me
we are one

Can it love you like God loves you, with a love that is better than life?
Can it connect you to eternal beauty? Can it save you? Can it redeem you?
Can it lift you out of the miry pit? Can it make you clean enough to finally feel acceptable?

Can it delight your soul to the care? Can it take your breath away with its faithfulness to you?
Can it paint both sunrise and sunset across the sky to beckon your attention?
Can it cause the breeze to blow and gently caress your cheeks?
Can it send hummingbirds and wildflowers across your path to romance your heart?
Can it parade before you the starry host and call them each by name?

Can it probe you to the depths and fill you with itself?
Can it rush to your aid riding on the wings of the wind?
Can it satisfy your hunger and thirst with bountiful things?
Can it give to you feet like a deer that you might dance upon the heights?
Can it arrange every detail of your life to draw you and drive you to itself?
Can it pursue you with all the resources of the universe?
Can it know you through and through and still desire you?

Can it raise you up and seat you in the heavenly realms and bless you with every spiritual blessing?
Can it supply your every need out of its glorious riches?
Can its grace be sufficient for you and its mercy help you in your greatest temptation?
Can it pour overflowing comfort into you through all of your troubles?
Can it reach down to draw you out of deep waters?
Can it set you on an unshakable foundation?
Can it bound across the mountains to come to your rescue?
Can it make you lie down in green pastures and lead you beside still waters?
Can it walk with you through the darkest wilderness and never leave you or forsake you?
Can it carry you when you are weak or have fallen?
Can it let you rest between its shoulders when you are weary or burdened?

Can it escort you to heaven’s banqueting table and spread its banner of love over you?
Can it hide you in the shelter of its wing?
Can it be your daily portion and immerse you in the boundlessness of itself?
Can it clothe you in robes of righteousness and garments of salvation?
Can it give to you praise in exchange for mourning?
Can it bestow on you a crown of beauty for ashes?
Can it turn your wailing into dancing?
Can it flood you with peace like a river?
Can it fill your heart with joy in the worst of afflictions?
Can it know the way to lead you home?
Can it refine you in its fire and bring you forth as gold?
Can it capture you fully even as it sets you fully free?

Can it ever truly be your Everything?

this empire, a tragedy
I.
i have built an empire
under a million rules extended by thousand people
under my protection

II.
blood runs off my hands
my hands clad in gold rings
gold rings clad in chain link and regret

III.
i am fearless
i was fear
he is nothing
he was powerful
we were kings
i am god
but we thought vice versa

IV.
bruised knuckles that bleed ambrosia
my gore to feed the deities of long time gone
i remember what it felt like the first time
a million lives ago they ripped me apart
they fed off my insides

V.
before becoming god he was a king
and before that a beggar child
weak, beaten on the street screaming
he screamed until his throat bled
remember that the one you crowned once lay at your feet
and while he lay there he threw up blood and choked on tears
one day you will be the one begging him for mercy
your tears on his sword

VI.
YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME
poor thing
banished from your own kingdom
no longer next to the highest in power
poor, poor thing
you are no longer welcome here

VII.
the old gods took the form of wolves
the took their apprentice to the woods
they ran
they burned their lungs with cold air
they ran
they attacked him from behind
they ran
they ate his flesh and drink his blood
they ran
they rebirthed him into an emperor
they ran
they promised to speak to and through him
the old gods no longer take form

VIII.
in he dug his dagger
down into his wrists and thighs
down into his stomach
he painted his silver pale skin
with his own blood
he tugged open his lips to lap up the ichor
he ripped out his human teeth with claws
in place grew in wolf teeth and fangs
his wounds healed over with fur
all human left of him now, his eyes
still blue

IX.
little red riding hood
no longer loved by god
god just as vicious as a wolf
empires ruled by gods
ruled by wolves

X.
***** went a rope
***** went a gun
***** went the thunder
one died one his own
two died in a fight
no one died in the storm
only wept
a fanged inhuman hung from the stairwell
two boys lay dead in the street after a lovers quarrel
two funerals held in the same hall
buried in a storm