the snow swirled
madly around us,
thrust forth on
a bitter-tongued wind,
and everyone knew
that god’s icy breath blew
for the myriad sins
we had sinned.
and every man knew
he deserved it;
there wasn’t a one
to be spared–
and here we would freeze
‘neath the snow-laden trees,
but the truth was
we no longer cared.
we sat on the snow
in a circle,
each man but
a shivering shell–
we’d accepted our fate,
and now we would wait
to be warmed by
the fires of hell.