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.