There was once a madman
A ruler of the stars
God of all which is forsaken.
There was once a man wearing a crown
Withered petals adorning rusty metal;
A man on a never-ending run
Running and running, watching those stars die.
There was once a man holding a promise
Never to leave shattered glass;
Yet brought to losing count
Of how many fragments he withheld to last.
There was once a keeper of memories
Memories dissolved into stardust;
Keeping that powder in a wooden jar,
He withstood all moments in history.
There was a lonely man,
Living forever alone
Surrounded by blackness and creations
And all the stars from up above.
He held a jar full of wishes
Crushed into star-light;
Wishes of darkness,
And a forgotten midnight.
There was a lonely man
Walking on memories;
Staring at a blackness
Still so bright.
There was once a man,
Promising me remedies;
But promises are so flammable now.
I knew once a man,
Always walking alone;
Never creating or breaking apart
Only keeping the universe on his own.
I knew once a man,
Important more than creation;
I knew once a man,
Cursed to be significant.
Stories were told
Of a man so wonderful;
Not a living soul has met him
Only darkness he beheld.
I’ve heard of this man,
A man so far off the edge of humanity
Only shadows could see him
For what he truly is.
For shadows never hold a soul
Of a pure human being;
Made of pure darkness,
They were the only ones to catch his bidding.
I’ve been told of moments
When the stars would shift –
As a madman crossed the sky,
Collecting dust in a jar.
He told them of voices
Calling to assist;
A work never done,
He had nowhere to leave behind.
There was once a man
A saviour of time;
A man so great
None could be grateful.
There was once a man
A keeper, breaking a promise;
Letting the world fall to the ground.
There was once a man
Gathering shuttered glass;
Calling to the void,
Only darkness has called back.
There was once a man
Building and breaking stars;
Holding within a promise
A jar full of hearts.
Only heard through silence,
Seen through memories;
A man creating moments
Promising happy endings.
There was once a man
Not a saviour he would be;
But a man with a promise
And a jar of remedies.
The Lonely God © Michal Rotko
Michal Rotko 