The Fire Has Gone Out By Lenrie Peters

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The Fire Has Gone Out

By

Lenrie Peters

The fire has gone out 

The last flicker gone

Nothing but aching gout 

To weather the coming storm.

The children have gone away 

Wafted to the South 

Where they will forget how to pray 

After the passing age of doubt.

Once it was warm here 

In the sun-baked month of June 

Each with a mug of beer 

And Juno with a tune.

Sometimes we heard of earthquakes 

And Typhoons in foreign parts 

But here only the showers came 

And not very much at that.

But now the arteries stiffen. 

And the cold shroud descends

And that silent companion loneliness 

Says death is at the door.

But I can hear Bells ringing 

Clear as the Virgin Spring 

Now they seem to be shouting 

Death is only a dream.