Our eyes are shaded from the setting sun
Leaving behind castle halls and long years
we climb this hill, a strange parade
set against the backdrop of a bleeding sky
crying out at the last for a voice to speak
for a storm to break upon this world and swallow it
But the air is silent over our walk into shadow
the only sound rising to meet us from far below
A black mass crawling in the darkness
voices wailing, drenched in anguish
and the crack of their whips overhead
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Sorry it’s been a few days since I posted something. I’m back in Washington now until January. I watched The Seventh Seal (1957) the night before I left. It was the second time I’ve seen it, the first being a little over five years ago, my freshman year of college. I don’t think I really got it that first time. It was a pretty movie to look at, but it didn’t resonate with me all that much. This time around was different. Maybe it’s because I watched it near the end of a year filled with fear, disease, and death. Whatever it was, the movie’s unflinching look at mortality struck me in a strange way. Every Ingmar Bergman film I’ve seen so far has been a masterpiece, and The Seventh Seal is no different. The above poem is inspired by the film.
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Photo by Sylvain Guiheneuc on Unsplash
The Light is On 
7 responses to “On the Hilltop”
When I first saw the picture and read your poem, I thought of the LOR. A second look and there’s so much more. Nice job.
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Not sure I’m familiar with the LOR, what does it mean? And thank you so much (:
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Ooops! Lord of the Rings.
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Oohhh now that one I am familiar with (; cheers!
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Wow you can feel and hear the anguish in this one. Really well done I love it. Didn’t know you headed back in the winter. You will still be in lockdown there too but hopefully you have some family to be with over the holidays. Be careful my friend. Great piece. Love ❤️ J
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Yeah we’re all still in lockdown but, like you said, it’s good to be with family at least. A little bit of normalcy for the holidays! Still masking up and using a ton of hand sanitizer all day though. Happy holidays! (:
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Yes I am glad you are with family that is where the heart lies. I know it is the same here. Crazy. Have an amazing holiday my sweet friend. Love to you and yours. 🤗💕❤️Joni
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