​justitia in exile
​Allison Merrell
​
ashes trickle down
we thought west
was the other way
it’s always the one
you’d least expect

our capes are shadows
light goes through us
and comes out stronger
we didn’t realize until now
that evil and righteousness
sleep calmly in our cold hands

we wanted the laurels on our head
but instead they are around
our wrists
our ankles
we believed we were heroes
villains have good motives

semantics were my forte
yours were your apple eyes
and unhinged jaw
ashes don’t always mean revival
but they always mean something burned

it’s better in fiction
we were midnight talkers
and barefaced liars
the odds are better with me
but collateral damage
is a necessity for conservation

we don’t know what red eyes mean
tears or the devil
everyone has them
lately lines are blurred
when in doubt
shut your mouth

the memory is worse
than what happened
we thought the stars in my eyes
were a good sign
but stars burn
​
we went the other way
but we forgot to look behind us
the path is lined with laurels
speak of the devil and she shall appear
prayers are for the weak

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