earthquake

The clock in the hallway is broken,
Our hands tied by the knowledge
Of timeless impossibility. In the background
A portrait has fallen:
Once attached, descent peaceful
While the family was asleep.

Counted the cracks in the wall-asleep,
You slipped into nightmares, mind's windows broken
By an unsettled planet less peaceful.
Your innocence fled with new knowledge,
Your heart's reservations had fallen,
Bridges crumbled in the background.

Over the noise in the background,
Your face remained composed. Asleep
in the hall where bricks had fallen,
Self-assumed silence was broken:
There would be no revelation. This knowledge,
More than anything, kept your descent peaceful.

You'll fight like hell to keep this far from peaceful.
There will be no fading to black, no music in the background,
No closing credits: upon this newfound knowledge
I fight to remain asleep:
Last year's memories now broken,
No redemption for the fallen.
Reports of the dead, final prayers for the fallen.
Denial flees; no hope to remain peaceful.
Found your sister facedown, ribs broken--
Brother sprawled out, blood streaking the background.
Your mother and father were crushed while asleep;
The ceiling caved. Your eyes burned with the knowledge.

You won't be the same with this knowledge.
Others picked up right where they'd fallen;
No recollections haunt them while asleep.
A sin to remain so complacent and peaceful.
Scenes of days gone by blurred in the background;
A radio's static, now broken.

Not of the mindset for knowledge. Those in the ground remained peaceful;
No more prayers for the fallen. Gunfire in the background,
So that one could remain always asleep. So that one could also be broken.