In a Dark Time

By Philip Appleman

The warnings come in whispers and in shadows,
The messages are fire and black contagion
As prophets rise to chant their midnight terrors,
And empires all atremble charge their legions:
The winds are blowing cold above the cities
And lights are going out around the world.

Even as the preachers thunder Treason,
And holy horrors dance with petty scandals,
Even in this dusk, the dream of reason
Beckons with its flickering bright candles.
But winds are blowing cold above the cities
And lights are going out around the world . . .

Dan Barker has turned this poem into a song. Listen to it and Philip Appleman's interview on Freethought Radio, July 1, 2006, broadcast, at: http://ffrf.org/radio/podcast