“The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” by Jane Beal

I came to the words, and I saw brightly
White Horse and his victorious rider!
I saw his yew-bow and his shining crown—
I saw he came to conquer the whole earth.

Our father moves through dooms of love

I saw Red Horse and his robber-rider,
who comes to steal all peace from the good earth.
I saw his upraised sword, flashing and keen,
and men slaying one another all day.

Our father moves through dooms of love

I saw Black Horse and his rider, a judge,
with uplifted scales, imbalanced, in hand,
declaring devastation to the wheat—
high prices to the poor but wine for the rich!

Our father moves through dooms of love

I saw Pale Horse, and his rider’s name
was Death. From him flowed famine, pestilence,
death by the sword and the rage of wild beasts,
crying out for the blood of unborn babes.

Our father moves through dooms of love

O Michael! Gabriel! Raphael and
Uriel! Bring your mighty winds to blow
from the four corners of the universe
on our hearts in fear of the Last Judgement—

that we might turn, and pray, and heal before
the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
come

down.

Jane Beal
Sunflower Songs (2012)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

by Albrecht Durer