Last Moments

 

The Harley swaggers in the dusky light,

its seething chrome and steel impassively

preparing for a moment to invite

our eager stares, our lust for mastery,

finesse, defiance. Mounting his machine,

the man acknowledges our call for speed,

an angry roar envelops us, obscene

affronts of smoke and spewing vapors feed

our vulgar appetites....and then a flash,

a popping sound, a sickening return

to silence, utter silence. All our brash

acclaim is swept aside, emotions churn

inside us -- frantic steps through darkened skies,

a specter greeting our unwilling eyes.