Night. Rain. A wan sky shredded by the
spires and openwork towers of a lacklustre
gothic city outline in the grey distance.
Plain. Gallows ripe with stunted hangmen
shaken by greedy crow beaks,
dancing uncanny jigs in the dark air
as wolves feast on their feet.
A few scattered thorny bushes and hollies
raising their horrid foliage here and there
over the sooty tangle of a sketchy backdrop.
And then, around three pallid barefooted
prisoners, a squad of high halberdiers
marching, their straight blades like harrow spikes
glistening against piercing lances of rain.