July Anomalies A – Z: King of Terrors

We gaze and gaze but the abyss is blind,
turn in terror at the snap of twigs.
Death is nothing but everything at the end,
bitter anguish and bleak descent
into the mouth of the grave,
the snare, the bite, the sting.
We are torn from security
                (such as it is)
of this fleshy tent
and marched off to face
the King of Terrors.

We are all gods , 
so the psalmist says and Jesus confirms,
we are all gods, and the sons of God,
but we will die just the same
we will die and fall like any prince of the realm.
This is a certainty, the only certainty.

He crushes and devours our bones
there will be nothing left.

And in this, even the old superstitions fail us,
all our ancient ghosts rising through
the damp veil of pale milk white fog,
the heralds have called his name,
the fanfare and flourish have been played;
receive the king of terrors,
this guest will not be turned away.

This is part of July Anomalies A-Z, a creative writing exercise and not intended to be an altogether accurate picture of the creature described above.