To Nothingness, To Unknowing (revised)

Do you believe in the runaway gods

The ones who live unnoticed among the grey

The empty souls find them only at the end

In some bleak way it is a blessing

Ancient minds and youthful hands, reaching out

Another broken soul joins the ranks

Do you believe in the shackled gods

The ones forced into oblivion for their hubris

It is said they deserve what curses bind them

And no soul dares break the chains

Hollow pain of solitude, cold pain of manacles

Weighed down, caged for eternity

Do you believe in the broken gods

The ones who raged like stars, then fell silent

They shift like predators, but their eyes are clouded

No purer heart can save them

Shadows, shrouding demons of lies and anger and teeth

From the shards of their past, deep evil peers out

Do you believe in the dead gods

The ones who sleep eternal

They will not open their eyes, no matter how hard you pray

How long you suffer in their honor

They have witnessed all things

Scratched into their chest by the crows

They do not hear your calling

And when you die

They will not know you then, either

A gods death is damnation

To nothingness, to unknowing