The Deepest Night

The deepest night closes in
across a sterile land
vacuumed of love and
shredded by hate,
where dogs howl
and birds fall from the sky.

Autumn settles over the south
while the north is incandescent,
a torpor of indifference
of apathy,
carpet fields of lies
and wizened evil grins.

You thought
you hoped
you wished
people would care,
but not enough,
there's never enough care.

The deepest night closes in
across a land with a dark heart
swept clear of grace
despoiled by people
failing history,
failing themselves.

Surprise is not an emotion
sadness is a state of being.