once more the candle flickers br and dies br no gust of wind to fan the flame br and I stand riveted br Prometheus to a rock br the flesh slowly peeled br by carnivorous talons br hungry for new-blood's breath br chains without keys br br rattle br br in defiant rage br scorching the night br reverberating br thunder br to awaken the gods br hammering the gates with fired-lead fury br but there is no response br from Olympian heights br as the final dying echo br br falls like a raindrop br in a puddle of silence.