"The Eighth Day"

Š1958 & 1973 D. Burgdorf (Return to "Poetry")

There is only vast silence where laughter had been
The Earth as a star is now cold and barren.
Not even a breeze to make a faint sound.
Just the dull glow of embers with no movement around.

It's an eerie sight, everything is so still.
A deathly silence surrounds every hill.
There was once the brilliance of night life so raw.
And the Devil's own laughter mixed in with it all.

Wild parties flourished, no one had a care.
Mankind was doomed but only few were aware.
Then came the tremor, an earthquake beneath.
As it became more intense people ran through the streets.

There were amplified screams that pierced the night.
A loud shrill of sirens, bright flashes of light.
Screams of wild horror, the heat of the sun.
Prayers by those who knew it was useless to run.

As the heat of volcanoes causes boulders to flow
The ground became molten from an inferno below.
Great structures turned to ashes and powder as they fell
While the world seemed to enter the very gates of Hell.

The oceans and seas began then to boil
As the land once so plentiful turned to charred soil.
The earth is now silent. Not a sound to be heard.
Not a solitary movement or song of a bird.

Beauty is a word that no longer has meaning.
There is only destruction where there once was believing.
All color was taken as this day left it's mark.
There is only the contrast between light and dark.

For it's sin and corruption, humanity has paid.
Time has lost all it's value— It is the eighth day.

But listen my friend, it isn't too late.
There is a way to be saved from this fate.

The Man on the cross gave so that you might live
And belief in Him is all you must give.
So reach out, take God's grace and live in His way
For it's just the beginning when it comes— the eighth day.

Note: This was written in it's original form in 1958. The last six lines were added in 1973 after I became a Christian and experienced the reality of a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ.

"The Eighth Day"

There is only vast silence where laughter had been The Earth as a star is now cold and barren. Not even a breeze to make a faint sound. Just the dull glow of embers with no movement around.

It's an eerie sight, everything is so still. A deathly silence surrounds every hill. There was once the brilliance of night life so raw. And the Devil's own laughter mixed in with it all.

Wild parties flourished, no one had a care. Mankind was doomed but only few were aware. Then came the tremor, an earthquake beneath. As it became more intense people ran through the streets.

There were amplified screams that pierced the night. A loud shrill of sirens, bright flashes of light. Screams of wild horror, the heat of the sun. Prayers by those who knew it was useless to run.

As the heat of volcanoes causes boulders to flow The ground became molten from an inferno below. Great structures turned to ashes and powder as they fell While the world seemed to enter the very gates of Hell.

The oceans and seas began then to boil As the land once so plentiful turned to charred soil. The earth is now silent. Not a sound to be heard. Not a solitary movement or song of a bird.

Beauty is a word that no longer has meaning. There is only destruction where there once was believing. All color was taken as this day left it's mark. There is only the contrast between light and dark.

For it's sin and corruption, humanity has paid. Time has lost all it's value— It is the eighth day.

But listen my friend, it isn't too late. There is a way to be saved from this fate.

The Man on the cross gave so that you might live And belief in Him is all you must give. So reach out, take God's grace and live in His way For it's just the beginning when it comes— the eighth day.