Breathes Death (Revised), Karnak "Longfellow's Excelsior Challenge" in SQ Format Options

[Larry]

Breathes Death

Ra’s bright device, while waning much too fast
to herald an approaching night, has passed
its zenith. Cloaking all the world in ice
while waning much too fast. Ra’s bright device
breathes death.

Catastrophe’s chill tongue… Flame dead beneath
its skin; a cancerous and blackened sheath,
is merely sign the fateful bells have rung.
Flame dead beneath catastrophe’s chill tongue,
breathes death

with stellar groan; proclaims an end to light.
As shadows dance through days once clear and bright,
the distant stars observe. What once had shone
proclaims an end to light with stellar groan;
breathes death.

No one replied as mournful prayers were said
imploring pity. Naught was overhead
but Stygian abyss; mouth gaping wide
as mournful prayers were said. No one replied!
Breathes Death,

“Hear now that solar sigh. Entropy’s rest
has stolen time!” No succor from the breast
which gave you life. All sightless stars must eye
entropy’s rest. “Hear now! That solar sigh
breathes death.”

Among the heaven’s height, a tiny branch
means nothing. A galactic avalanche
renews itself within black void each night.
A tiny branch among the heaven’s height
breathes death.

Hot air, wind from the stars, speeds heavenward.
Zeta-Reticuli, no Saint... Bernard
propels itself to meet Sol’s final prayer.
Wind from the stars speeds heavenward. Hot air
breathes death.

Ra’s bright device, like Isis’ faithful hound
emerging from its underworld, was found
to mark the solstice’s warmth. Shining like ice,
like Isis’ faithful hound, Ra’s bright device
breathes death.

Once molten star, Sol turned a sullen gray
and sightless orb toward a place where lay
its children’s frozen ashes. From afar,
Sol turned a sullen gray. Once molten star
breathes death.

Larry D. Jennings

[Larry]

Dear Leo,

Come now! I don't know you from "Eve" but your writings on this site have shown me that you have a brilliant mind. Whether you received an education past the age of 15 is moot and, to me, very arguable. Knowledge, as you well know, is garnered through life with experience (which is a lot better teacher than any I had in school). I was raised in two (church oriented) orphanages and as a marital cast-off, had little incentive to achieve. Average grades in school (45 years ago) did not hinder me in the process of attaining knowledge through life's experiences. My love of Science Fiction, Egyptian lore, astronomy (and Lori's fantastic SQ creation) gave me the ability to write "Breathes Death". If you are still having trouble understanding any part of the poem, please ask for clarification and I will be more than happy to explain. I didn't mean for it to be obtuse, honestly!

As far as the line: "Zeta-Reticuli of Saint Bernard"
I've changed it, per your suggestion, because no Star is a Saint (some Saints are indeed Stars though.) Hope the change helps a little.

Larry