The Pendulum

Listen!
Can you hear it?
The slow, rhythmic
Ticking
Of the Universe,
Measuring deeds
Done and not done,
Counting the souls
Marching
Through Time.

Ever lower,
The pendulum swings,
Favored torture
Of the Cosmic Inquisitor,
Steel arc
Of everlasting Life,
Of inevitable Death,
Swinging
Us to Heaven
Or to Hell.