Morphius In The Overworld Poem by Thomas Golding

Morphius in the overworld
(extract)

Terminus

You believed the siren whispers
Of the acolytes of the night
Golden offerings were their measure
For the poppy’s dreams of might
If darkness be the price of knowing
Then knowledge is useless in the van
Of the overwhelming tumult
Raging through the mind of man
Forgotten now the dreams of future
Past ambitions youthful hopes
Only present ruled the conscience
And the pressing needs to score
Faceless creatures coming to you
Some to buy and others sell
Somehow living through tomorrow
Survival now a living hell.
Why do your eyes shine so?

Watch your friends slip into darkness
Turn away to hide your fears
One by one they vanished onward
All afraid their turn could come
Live today forget tomorrow
If one’s doubts should start to rise
Have taste of instant easement
Auto-da-fe of life.
Why do your eyes shine so?

ENVOI
Now your wheel has turned beyond
The path you chose not long ago
To ebb among the flotsam
And jetsam of our kind
“Misadventure” said the coroner
Was this not your life?