The fourth man
walks wisely out on to the hill
looking west for directions
But being this far north
he remains lost in both space and time,
planets or stars hidden
behind the clouds and houses
Yes, there is a scarlet gash across the horizon,
blood on black velvet:
it is the longest night
Blood can mean birth or death,
defeat or victory:
gifts make little difference
There is sickness in the air:
it begins to rain