Mirage

I met a seer of note,
One night while visiting a fair
Drawn in by her hollow stare,
While she was standing on a passing float

I was caught in an unyielding grip,
As she held my attention with her eyes
They promised to tear me strip by strip
As she'll sort the truths from my lies

She beckoned me with a crooked finger
As she stepped off the float's deck
I thought I'd dare to linger,
But felt a clawing at my throat, a threat

With a quickened step
I went after her, with haste
Closer, the feeling of fear crept,
The rising bile, I could taste

Like a gracious host, she told me to sit
And then grabbed my hand in her claw
Her eyes directed me to a cup full of grit
I forgot to breathe at what I saw

A hand, severed at the wrist
In a place, shrouded in flames.
I recognized it as I felt my heart twist
The hand of my brother, James

Tears fell from my eyes
The memories came down crashing
I saw her smile and felt my anger rise
My eyes may have also been flashing

What right did she have
To bring up something so painful
Then have the gall to laugh
At succeeding in being cruel

"I have a message for you"

She said, staring down her nose at me

"Your brother has something to say.
He knows about your pain and anger, at what happened on that day."

Then from underneath the table, she brought out a package

"He said, to give you this. It was taken from the wreckage."

My trembling hand shot out and I took from her the gift
Then I ran out alarmed as the tent was swallowed by a rift

Once I was at a fair, where her all-seeing eyes beckoned
Then I found myself in my bed, gasping air.
Must have been a nightmare, I reckoned


Then I saw on my pillow
The cruel truth show
The gift from that seeing cow
Sitting with an eerie glow.