Open Poetry #37 |
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The Beast |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia ![]() |
Far away from noise and neon; Far from what we deem as daily life; Beyond luminated footpaths, And all we know as blessed and blithe; Lie places seldom tread by night... For fear of swinging scythe ! If fell circumstance should place you 'Neath the shadows of the moon; And on foot you're forced to wander Through this Land of Dread and Doom... You may exit brave, having gone unscathed; But the memories will loom ! These are places, not for the timid. The superstitious should hasten past ! Decaying trees rise up like witches ! As you walk the shadows that they cast. Branches blowing in the wind... Like bony arms, outstretched to grasp! 'Twas long ago and far away... In a town I shall not name; I was young and bound astray... With desires yet to tame. Far too often my indulgences Caused my kin and comrades shame. At a corner table, in a tavern, With a few friends gathered 'round; I'd watch the faces in such places, For the stories that abound. Oft' times I'd give birth to rhymes Amid such sites and sounds. Although I'd come to muse... Request for solitude was refused. The atmosphere was far too light and jolly. My comrades were elating, And 'though the blank page lay there waiting; I soon laid down my pen, and turned to folly. Too little had I dined, And soon, the smoke and wine Had me feeling ill and reeling in my tracks. I stepped outside the bar, To seek the cool night and the stars, And there remained, unconscious on my back. When I awoke, the night was quiet. The tavern empty, dark and still. My comrades had deserted and gone home. The streets were bleak and barren. To show life, there was nil... Save for me, disoriented and alone. Street lights disappeared behind me; And soon, I travelled blindly, Down wooded trails and along the haunted bogs. There did tower all around me... Ghastly ghouls that would devour me; Incogneto, such as trees and fallen logs. A horned moon gave off its light As I journeyed through the night. Through the eerie fog, both in and out my mind. Decaying trees rose up like witches ! Demons crouched within the ditches ! I trembled at what horrors I might find. Creative imagination is not a gift at all, When you're trekking through the Land of Doom and Dread. Creating demons that await you and misfortunes to befall. With each new step... A new threat lay ahead. I prayed for fast deliverance... And the comfort of my bed. The splintered hags that over towered me, All moved forward, to devour me ! Up ahead, I heard the snarling of a beast ! Its screaming echoed through the night, And my soul was filled with fright... At the thought that, on my bones, it soon would feast ! Hurriedly I travelled ! My nerves coming unravelled ! St. Christopher... Please bear me through this land ! St. Jude... I'm lacking hope ! Someone help me cope ! I'm in dire need and stood all I can stand ! 'Though my brand of Catholicism has been more like Nihilism; Where are you, now that you're in such demand? And so... On I hastened... With heart pounding and pulse racing ! My shaking legs intent on covering ground. When upon the trail that bore me... A figure stood before me... I wondered at what type of beast I'd found ? It was not just in my head... This beast truly was HELL bred ! My legs grew weak... No longer could I stand. Spirit almost left its casing, at The horror I was facing ! My wife ! Holding baseball bat, in hand ! I was tortured by her growling; And her threats of...disemboweling ! She spat vile and vicious venom with each word ! Then... I escaped the Banshee's screaming... For in my Mind, I started dreaming... About the witches, ghouls and demons, much preferred. |
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© Copyright 2006 Larry F. Leake - All Rights Reserved | |||
The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
My nerves were coming unravelled too Uriah! But I laughed at the ending. Incredible work!! By the way... did your wife like it? |
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XOx Uriah xOX Senior Member
since 2006-02-11
Posts 1403Virginia |
Yes Lady. She liked ::flinches:: it. She gave me permission ::ducks:: to post it. Thank you for taking time ::blocks:: to read it. I know it is a bit lengthy. Thank you. |
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MGROVES![]() ![]()
since 2004-02-01
Posts 3802california |
nice, could say a bit more, but my intuition says let it go~ My spirit will rise |
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StevenS Senior Member
since 2005-09-21
Posts 945L. A. (Lower Alabama) |
Great story Uriah! My heart went out to you when the demon was revealed. :-) Much enjoyed! |
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poetry_queen Member
since 2006-02-02
Posts 94england, |
really enjoyed this poem, keep up the good work. make sure that you keep on posting and then i will keep on reading. you have a fan ![]() |
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Magnus![]() ![]()
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
excellent story....quite a great job of telling it....you certainly must be pretty adept and ducking and dodging by this time, huh? Nice write! |
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Midnitesun![]()
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
well, you took me on quite a journey there, up and down Hades river, and had me wanting to toss you a lifeline or some shovel with which to dig yourself outta that dark dream then I saw your bat-swinging-wife and decided your local domestic abuse muse counselor (think Pooh Bear) should be called to extricate you from the grips of a King-like poetry nightmare ![]() ![]() I enjoyed this write! |
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MGROVES![]() ![]()
since 2004-02-01
Posts 3802california |
came back to read again never known a lady to swing a bat but know of men who have with egos of reversing roles~ knew of a pooh bear too shed a tear for him tonight also as a tee shirt i have held on too for 30 years, is now missing. my heart was buried with him for when i gave i gave for life he gave me a son most precious gift from love as i was told could not give birth so my heart forever n always holds his love his memories his gift of life damn i miss him but in his sons eyes are his and thank god he never swung a bat from a temper he couldnt control sorry but memories this time of year are intense, but right now , last couple of days, make no sense. My spirit will rise |
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