One Step

A decayed bouquet
clutched in your filthy fingers
as you walk down the broken aisle
nine steps, eight steps
to the end of the road

Blank stares from the pews
The audience is hypnotized
by the tragedy about to unfold
Your organs play a lamenting tune
Requiem for a Forgotten Innocence
seven steps, six steps
to the end of the road

Bridegroom, stands tall and proud
Ignoring the tears that fall down
and the way your breath hitches.
to keep the seam and stitches
from bursting apart
five steps, four steps
to the end of the road

Tripping on the tattered veil
skewed in your messy hair
Beauty lost in Memory
of broken yesterdays
three steps, two steps
to the end of the road

Candles alight the altar
read to burn it all
And give the fairy-tale
a happy ending
last step
to the end of the road

Finally, you have arrived
to tie the slipknot
of the frayed noose
around your slender neck
at the end of the rope