Illustration by Arthur Burdett Frost (1851–1928) from Cassell’s Illustrated History of England, published circa 1896. Public Domain.

Song of the Plague Prophet (Solomon Eagle)

The pelagic fish will continue to swim, and thrive when we are gone…

You! It was nothing. 
No need to concern yourself with the rigors of dying.

Listen! We are under the influence of the dog-star. 
We must keep careful counsel.

We die between one and three in the morning
in complicated distress.

Such is life in a plague year. 
See to it that my particulars are properly disposed.

The earth will be rid of man after the sixth extinction, 
and start anew…

There will be balance again.

Illustration from A Rod for Run-awayes, by Thomas Dekker, 1625. Public Domain.

“Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.”
— Ray Bradbury