Ash and Laughter

From the silence a cracking roar. The stage splits open the void at its core.

Trumpets of ruin, choirs of flame. We rise as whispering my name. A thousand

masks fall from his face, each one smiling out of place. The tent turns

skyward, torn in twain, and laughter bleeds like acid rain. Behold

the mastery born in ash. Unfold, the world is

crash. Surrender, ash. The crows unholy holy chant

Last and of the ringmaster stat.

Hands like smoke, eyes of gold. Voices stitch from the stories told. He spreads his