Is this the way the world ends?

Is this the way the world ends?

With a whimper, not a bang

Like a sword sheathing softly,

No blood upon its tang

 

Do we go softly into that goodnight?

No rage, just acceptance,

Heralded away with the dying light?

 

I know now, why the hollow men

Why the stuffed men

Are empty and devoid,

Filled with once-weres and might-have-beens

Never-weres and should-have-beens

Bursting at the seams again

 

Or do we fight and blaze

A blinding spot of light

Even while fading

Leave a mark upon sight?

 

Is this the way my world ends?

Barren and alone

Found my match and lost it

Nowhere to go, no running to home

 

Or do I stand and fight

Raging with the light

Even while falling, try to keep hope in sight?

Or let it burn away, set alight

By its own fire?

 

A turn up ahead

Fork in the road

Approaching a crossroads-

Do I slow to make the turn

Or crash and burn

And let myself return

Ashes to ashes

Dust to dust?

I can only say, I’ll do what I must.