Swan Song

Jenni Fagan

I burn all churches

right down to the ground

use ash for ink

write some new hymns

lift an altar onto my truck

to make a vintage desk

Paschal candles to light my way

in the apocalypse

I hear sirens

like a swan song

as I head out on country roads

leaving just the smell of smoke

to linger on.

‘Swan Song’ was originally published in Gutter #33

Dr Jenni Fagan is an award-winning author of six novels, a non-fiction memoir, and eight poetry collections.