It is the black smoke rising br Oozing through shuttered windows br seeping into quiet corners br Blocking the heart from br the light of the mind br deepening the gloom of br the mind’s eye br br It is the black smoke rising br Sucking out the grief br where loss hides in daytime br Slipping sorrow in its wake br and despair into its bed br to smother laughter br to strangle hope br br It is the black smoke rising br The pain crying out br to the one that is lost br Empty echoes mocking back br curling up around the hollow husk br Listless in life br tasting the death of br the black smoke rising.