For Michael

Forgiveness

Fragmented grief on a broken mirror

eyes haunted, sad and shattered

choir silenced in the middle of the hymn

a chorus of angels plucked and scattered

Shocked masses huddled in disbelief

Heaving shoulders, candles sputtering

like the broken wings of butterflies

brought to earth when they cease fluttering

Genius murdered by hands of greed

ink stained fingers first did harm

as guilty as the ragged vultures

who hunted, swooped and lied and swarmed

The healer, sworn to uphold the promise

betrays Apollo, Asclepius and Hygieia 

his syringe an axe to the legend heart

somnolence a slap to Panaceia 

Yet the man in the mirror sings forgiveness

with electric moon dance, absolving twirl

while grieving for this crying earth,

his message was we are the world.

And a button clicks on a cd player

and the remorseful reapers voice is silenced

vengeance muted by his melody

judgment weakened by his brilliance

Healing masses feel the groove then

drying eyes and tapping feet

Zombies laugh between the aching

moon dance echoes of their heartbeat

Monarchs wings are gently sutured

their beating hearts conduct the band

and angels dance to pop beat rhythms

as all hail the king of Neverland