Sonnet XXX: Ashes

©6-24-21, Olan L. Smith

The journey done, it is complete for one.

His onus strays, a man will walk for naught,

And he will wander forth his battles won,

   His fight is done by deed and not by thought.

            He wears his scars with pride, and each a mar

                     That's won by fire, it's earned with deeds of clout

        From power high above the earth, the Star

 Is come for all, this God is not a scout;

                Yet, he's the judge, the force who comes to shake

      The sieve, reduce the shaft and toss away,

         To burn the ash to spread his dirt to bake,

  And nothing's left apart ― it's not his way

To leave unsatisfied. Across the Styx

           Our hope remains, rebirth our sin inflicts.