A Paradise for All (revised)

“There WERE a lot of gods,” she said, as she stepped out of the night,

her bloodied sword trailing after her in the dying of the light.

“For the injustices their reign has caused, I have cut them down.

And I will do the same to any who try to claim their crowns!”

Her lips were red, and she had blue-black skin. Her hair was a thunder cloud.

Her eyes were twin golden augers, as she stood to challenge the crowd.

Some who witnessed stared in disbelief. They scoffed and called her, “Liar!”

Others raged and called her “Witch!” and planned to set her afire.

But a thunderous clap ripped through the sky and then another, and another.

And the ground, it heaved beneath their feet, and they fell and clung to each other.

A great wail began within their throats. A great howling began in the wind.

A great hymn of darkness began in the skies. And they cowered to wait for their end.

The Godslayer, now forgotten amidst this earthly discontent,

lifted her sword skyward, her voice a haunting-sweet lament.

For it was no god nor deity that rent the world asunder

but the souls of those she had avenged as they stretched their arms in wonder.

For upon their death, they had been shackled, and they lay deeply entombed.

The rage of their slain innocence mooring them to their doom.

“Awaken!” she cried amidst the storm, “Awaken, for you are free!

The Gods of old have perished upon this blade in front of me!

The longest night is over, no longer court despair!

Go! Go to your loved ones. They all await you there!”

And as she spoke a door appeared, unfolding in the clearing,

much like a spinning puzzle box appearing and disappearing.

And beyond its gates a paradise for all who would embrace

that the gift of our shared differences is the gift that brings us grace.