#151 Kevin Brophy ‘After this, I saw another angel come down’ (Revelation 18:1)

#151 ‘After this, I saw another angel come down’ (Revelation 18:1)

A pair of them drove through town today

in a white car, slowly, counting

each house, stopping outside

some of them to debate a fine point.

They bought mineral water at the shop

and did it again, driving back

past every house, an arm out

an open side window as they counted

each dwelling, shed, ruin, each old rainwater tank

now housing wasps, burnt out stars and snakes

that no one’s bothered to count.

They did not stay long enough

to count the dogs or watch the sun

make its own deep blushing exit,

no, they were quickly gone

to count the better sins in greater cities

from the cool comfort of that perfectly white car

under a perfect sky in one of their long unruffled days.