Light fades
sun’s optimism
giving way to shadows
My eyes are drawn to hidden places
warily seeking the source of this disquiet
What beasts inhabit crevices, what creatures lurk
hiding in the trees that loom over me?
Could it be the incarnation
of trapped souls
taunting my passage?
(Image my own)
Warily watching innocents
parading on the edge of darkness,
portraits of miniature monsters,
haunting deserted streets.
Howls from a local asylum,
like sirens, scream of wizards,
devious deviners hovering
over fresh young blood.
Heart beating irrationally,
I pause to calm my breath –
turn to find my charge gone
disappeared into the haze.
I retrace my steps – No!
She’s evaporated, snatched –
vomit rises in my throat,
while goblins stalk shadows.
Frantically, I hunt, search
stashes, grasping for clues,
night closing in; I shiver
at the ominous laughter.
Curiosity caught her –
twilight’s call, visions
enticing – unaware of
vulnerability, eager-eyed
as any student of fright –
hissing cackles circle
the unsuspecting morsel
of flesh, drooling fangs
connive – bumping into
evil, she tries to run, is
swallowed up, lost, stench
of morbidity closing in –
find her, crumpled –
a broken bird – princess
dreams dishevelled, streaks
of tears on muddied face.
Tend to her in the shadowy
hours, dissuading fears –
All imaginary, I persuade,
just costumes like yours..
Yet, even I feel the lingering
snarl of beasts, the undeniable
chill in the air; I snuggle her
tight, and say an extra prayer
as Night wraps her in his
ebony cloak and feverish and
afraid, she is whisked away
to another mortifying realm.
(A ghoulish tale, written a few years back and submitted here for Manic Mondays 3 Way prompt: ominous.)
Warily watching innocents
parading on the edge of darkness,
portraits of miniature monsters
haunting deserted streets.
Howls from a local asylum
like sirens scream of wizards,
devious deviners hovering
over fresh young blood
Heart beating irrationally,
I pause to calm my breathing,
turn to find my charge gone,
disappeared in the haze.
I retrace my steps – no!
She’s evaporated, snatched –
vomit rises in my throat,
while goblins stalk shadows
frantically I hunt, search
stashes, grasping for clues,
the night closes in, I shiver
at the echoing laughter.
Curiosity caught her –
twilight’s call, visions
enticing – unaware of her
vulnerability, eager eyed
as any student of fright –
hissing cackles circle
the unsuspecting morsel
of flesh, drooling fangs
connive – bumping into
evil, she tried to run, was
swallowed up, lost, stench
of morbidity closing in –
found her crumpled like
a broken bird – princess
dreams dishevelled, streaks
of tears on muddied face,
tended to her in the shadowy
hours dissuading her fears,
All imaginary, I persuaded,
just costumes like yours –
yet even I felt the lingering
snarl of beasts, the undeniable
chill in the air; I snuggled her
tight, and said an extra prayer
as Night wrapped her in his
ebony cloak and feverish and
afraid she was whisked away
to another mortifying realm.
(Image: hdwallpapers.cat)
One Woman's Quest 