Little Apocalypse

I enjoy this poem because Wright addresses the highly debated topic of the apocalypse. I find it fascinating, but frightening, especially as accounted in the book of Revelation in the Bible. No one really knows how to handle it or what to think on the matter, so it’s always interesting to read various opinions. I like how the poem builds as it goes on. The first stanza portrays nothing out of the ordinary and ends with the words “sedate, avaricious life” leading us to further believe that conclusion.
In the second stanza things start to heat up, but it doesn’t lead you to expect anything just yet. That’s the point though-because the apocalypse is supposed to happen when we least expect it. Obviously Wright is well informed on this topic. The last stanza is my favorite because the peril is becoming visible…

Inside the basements of the world,
the clear-out’s begun,
Lightning around the thunder-throat of the underearth,
A drop of fire and a drop of fire,
Bright bandages of fog
starting to comfort the aftermath.
Then, from the black horizon, four horses heave up, flash on their faces.

Preparations for the coming storm are being made. This is pretty epic… for lack of a better term. It is left to one’s imagination what will happen after the horses “heave up”, but that is the neat thing. The author permits his audience to think whatever they wish on the topic. It would be a little presumptuous of him to provide any conclusion, though.