Saudade

Saudade

Her voice was rising with the smoke

Of the restaurant patrons

Slowly dispersed by the ceiling fan

In the old district of Lisbon 

Paved cobble street, 

Grey covered lichen walls

Her lament was unintelligible to me

Though it took me away 

From this sad cellar 

To the fortress built

A long time ago in Evovra 

Built by a knight order

Fighting a lost crusade 

In some far away countries 

Cell after empty cell

In this endless corridor

Resonated with the vacuum of vigil prayers

Said in the middle of the night

For brothers soldiers souls

Hoping to reach heaven

When the doors of hell 

Stood wide open

For killing they had done

In the name of their faith

Forgetting that the slained

Were  but brothers too

Praying didn't wash them

From that crime

The low hum of past prayers

Raised slowly in the cold air

Of the ruined chapel

In the glorification 

Of a never to be kingdom

It could have been so different.

Lucette C. Bailliet

All Rights reserved

NaPoWrimo 2016,

TSL, 20/30