through the night
rain fell thick and thunderous

by morning the sky was clear
blindingly scattering photons
sharply at a watery wavelength

by morning the ground was as dry
as the fallen leaves
leaving me pajama’d and wondering
what i’d dreamt
or not.

Chivalry is dead
And I killed it.
Slit its throat
While it slept.
Watched the life
Drain and disappear.
It was I who
Held the sword—
Promising to restore
Peace and reconciliation.
But as backs turned
I took lethal aim.
This is how it ended—
My guilt stained like scars.
The humid air still quivering,
Moist with betrayal.

tipping the scales
a bit of a misnomer
i’d think

toppling might be more descriptive