Hemlock Walked Away Poem by Alven L. Robinson

Hemlock walked away
into the pale blue
and scarlet grays of winter afternoons

Slow shadows in her lunar skies
a sorrow crept across
her prophesies of gold

Hallowed sounds of cold
flowed into her years
the tears without a trace

A fate lamented soon
a love adored
a lyre's song along the lonely shore

She drew toward the edge
a pleasure there to view
a glint within her smile - - as if she might refuse

Then came the serpent's pledge
the shudder in the air
fair Eurydice had heard her name

A portent sent to call
death's intention after all
to feed the flames

Charon to ply the current deep
her coin to keep
along the bank

No thanks to plea
no misery to choose
a fading fortune grasped too soon - -

her final journey guaranteed.