Tag: dark poetry

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 23

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Ghost Stories, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Something a little different today.

The Lonely One

Oh won’t you please come in and sit,

Not many folks stop by.

The place gives them a weird feeling,

So most won’t even try.

But you’re not most, you’re braver far,

At least got through the door.

If you could just come closer now,

I’ll show you so much more.

This really is a lovely house,

Was built before my time.

And though I cannot go outside,

Sunrises are sublime.

What’s that you say, you feel a chill,

The heat’s been off a while.

Just down those stairs and through the arch,

You can’t mistake that style.

See, all those rumours are untrue,

There’s naught down there but dust.

No monsters, myst’ries, ghosts or such,

Just detritus and rust.

Why don’t we check the upstairs out,

You’ve heard about the light?

They say it’s carried back and forth,

By someone through the night.

Yet as you see, there’s no one here,

Except for you and I.

But once a story like that starts,

Can’t stop it though you try.

And there’s the attic door. It’s locked.

More dust is all that’s there.

The key is on that ring you hold,

There may be mice, beware.

You say you’ll look some other time,

Perhaps that’s for the best.

We’ll go downstairs and sit a spell,

In case you need a rest.

Oh don’t mind me, I’m just the help,

Included in the price.

I’ve been here years, but that’s okay,

A constant roof is nice.

How do you like the house pray tell,

I think you’d like it here.

Now that you’ve seen there’s nothing strange,

Please pour the tea my dear.

Thank you so much for doing that,

You’re kind to lend a hand.

It seems us ghosts can’t lift too much,

I’m sure you understand.

I promise not to stomp about,

Or rattle some old chain.

Won’t scream or moan or fuss all night,

Go on about my pain.

I sure would love some company,

To help me pass the time.

With all the stories ‘bout this place,

Could have it for a rhyme.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo 2022 Day 13

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, Old Gods and Magic Folk, PoetryLeave a comment

So today was a “No Idea What I’m Doing” day. I just started writing and let it take over and become whatever it was going to be. Turns out, it’s a little bit Lovecraft with a hint of “Cabin in the Woods”. As always, I’d love to know what people think.

The Keeper of the Eight-Fold Gate

There’s more around than meets the eye,

More things than can be seen.

If you could see between the lines,

Learn what has always been.

Be warned now, that way madness lies,

For such has been the fate.

Of all who sought for wisdom there,

Beyond the Eight-Fold Gate.

Some claim eight is the number of,

The Gods who live beyond.

For others, it’s how many deaths,

It takes to form the bond.

I only know that madness waits,

For any who would dare.

None have returned, with minds intact,

Who have once ventured there.

I do not know, just what they hope,

To gain at such a cost.

For what is gained is surely gone,

Their shattered souls are lost.

It’s not my place to look beyond,

The Eight-Fold Gate and see.

My job is just to lead you to,

The place you need to be.

Then I collect the ruined thing,

That stands where you once stood.

And take it to a place of rest,

In ancient, sacred wood.

I know, I know, you are the one,

The one who will succeed.

And find that which so many sought,

That for which you still bleed.

Your eyes and flesh were just your part,

Of what you had to pay.

But what you did to others now,

Would make a demon pray.

Now stand upon the stone and speak,

Just as you have rehearsed.

Look through the Eight-Fold Gate and see,

If you are blessed or cursed.

I hear you scream but do not look,

Until the light has gone.

A body slumps upon the stone,

So glad I’m but a pawn.

And as I lead away the husk,

Dark laughter fills my mind.

“I thank you for the meal, such ones,

Are getting hard to find.”

It’s not my place to look beyond,

The Eight-Fold Gate and see.

So long as there are those who would,

What lives there eats for free.

As long as it is fed it need,

Not breach that ancient door.

For if it does, then all is lost,

We will exist no more.

I am not evil, take no joy,

In sacrifice I bring.

Seek just to keep this world safe,

From ancient monstrous thing.

So if you know someone who would,

For ancient wisdom seek.

The sort who’d kill and torture just,

To get themselves a peek.

Send them along, and I will guide,

Them to the Eight-Fold Gate.

That they may claim their just reward,

And so delay our fate.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 17

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Self Awareness, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Once again, life has conspired to delay a post. I’m still in the fight, but some days it’s lions 47, gladiators 0. Yesterday was one of those days.

On Being a Night-Owl

Bright and blessed the day may be,

But sacred is the night.

Life’s labours done beneath the sun,

But sacred is the night.

When work is done and darkness falls,

‘Tis then we truly pray.

At end of day, in darkness wrapped,

‘Tis then we truly pray.

We run all day, our brains a-whirl,

Our refuge is the night.

All rush, all work, no time to pause,

Our refuge is the night.

Our minds and bodies seek the sun,

But souls embrace the dark.

We rush through days of light and sound,

But souls embrace the dark.

We live our lives beneath the sun,

But sacred is the night.

We sing the praises of the day,

But sacred is the night.

So still your mind and still your voice,

Embrace night’s velvet peace.

Now rest your soul in dark stillness,

Embrace night’s velvet peace.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 3

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Lovecraftian, Lovecraftian Poetry, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s a little rambling and definitely a little dark, but I chalk it all up to being exposed to Lovecraft, Howard, Derleth and their ilk at an impressionable age.  Whatever may be the explanation…. Enjoy!

 

On Hubris

I’d not believe had I not seen,

The thing with my own eyes.

Collapsed, my knees gone weak with fear,

Un-manned by it’s sheer size.

 

In truth no living thing should stand,

Titanic as this stood.

I rose and fled much deeper still,

Into that cursed wood.

 

As I ran on, I oft’ looked back,

At what bestrode the land.

That nightmare beast set free at last,

Released by my own hand.

 

I had been warned, would not believe,

Trust just what I could see.

The ritual, I did perform,

To call this God to me.

 

Oh now I see, now I believe,

Too late! Too late by far!

The God has come by my command,

From some dark, distant star.

 

It’s found me now, it lifts me up,

And so much higher still.

It’s inside now, inside my head,

Laughs at my my feeble will.

 

I beg for death. I pray for death,

But God has plans for me.

It grants me now my secret wish,

Grants immortality.

 

That was the thing, the prize I sought,

The prize for which I’d kill.

Yet now it’s mine, this nightmare prize,

It’s my blood I would spill.

 

The laughter of my hungry God,

Grinds at my very soul.

To know the evil that you’ve done,

Exacts a dreadful toll.

 

A billion screams, two billion more,

Damnation’s choral sound.

And through the flame, and smoke and death,

See corpses all around.

 

Now this is what, what I have wrought,

Wrought with my mortal greed.

I sought to make a God a slave,

Must pay now for my deed.

 

My lot to witness for my God,

Through all eternity.

Denied the balm, the gift of death,

Condemned, condemned to see.

 

I cast these words out to the stars,

Know not whose eye they’ll find.

Believe, believe, I beg believe!

Don’t let pride make you blind!

 

Cheers, Winston

 

 

NaPoWriMo Day 28

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Discrimation, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Uncategorized, Values1 Comment

Because of the last two night shifts and having to work tomorrow at 0600, I haven’t slept since about 1430 yesterday. This has some strange effects upon my little brain. For starters, I had absolutely no idea what to write about today, only the determination to not miss a post this close to the end of the month. So I just started putting words on the page and trusted it to write itself. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO YOUNGWICH PLOT

“You are a witch and so must burn!”

The magistrate declared.

So terrified, the young girl sobbed,

And in her heart despaired.

“All these good folk have seen you dance,

With devils in the night.”

“And when you spoke to Widow Blythe,

She fell down dead of fright.”

“You’ve cursed a babe and blighted crops,

Done Satan’s own dark deeds.”

“You’ve done all this and so much more,

To suit your evil needs.”

“When you have died, your grave shall be,

Unhallowed, unmarked plot.”

“With iron chains and salted earth,

To bind you to the spot!”

“Now speak the truth, or not at all,

Repent now, do not lie!”

“Confess to us your evil ways,

Confess before you die!”

Her fate confirmed, she stands up straight,

“The truth is what you seek?”

“Then harken to my words and learn,

About your future bleak.”

“The spells I weave, no devils need,

All nature is my loom.”

“It’s true that with some herbs I mix,

I fly upon a broom.”

“I’ve done my best to help this town,

Through famine, drought and plague.”

“And many a good Christian has,
Sought my help with the ague.”

“But then one day an old man tried,

To have his way with me.”

“So I did as my Mother taught,

Displaced him with my knee.”

“Then Sunday next, that man stood up,

And lied of me to you.”

“He is a man and I am not,

So his words must be true.”

“He swore he’d seen me dancing with,

Three devils in the night.”

“But did not say why he was there,

So late to see that sight.”

“What was it that he hoped to see,

When peeping in that pane?”

“Was he possessed of some dark urge,

From which he’d not refrain?”

“But you don’t want to hear this truth,

I see this plain as day.”

“There’s just one thing before I stop,

It’s this that I will say.”

“By powers of the earth and air,

And of the waters deep.”

“From now until your lives are spent,

You’ll know no restful sleep.”

“Each time you close your eyes to rest,

Wherever, you may be.”

“My tortured face all wreathed in flame,

Is all that you shall see.”

“Your stock shall flee across the land,

To seek their wild way.”

“Your lands shall bear no crops for you,

“Now heed these words I say.”

“Now none of this must needs to pass,

Surcease my freedom buys.”

“But if I burn, this curse shall last,

‘Til each one present dies!”

They burned the witch so legend says,

Her every word came true.

Those who slew her soon rued the day,

Too late there’s naught to do.

So now you know the reason for,

The name our town has got.

I welcome one and welcome all,

Welcome to Youngwich Plot.

Cheers Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 1

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Fantasy, Macabre, NaPoWriMo, PoetryLeave a comment

So… it’s April 1st once again and the kick off of National Poetry Month which means the start of the annual poetry writing challenge. The last time I tried this, things came up and I failed to meet my target of one poem per day for the full month. But here we are again and so… Here we go again.

I was thinking about the movies and shows you see where someone finds a book of spells and, lured by the promise of shortcuts to success they decide to try out the spells. Nothing happens of course… until everything goes pear shaped. Often with tentacles. That scenario inspired today’s verse.

A WORD TO THE UNWISE

You found the book, you learned the spells,

Rehearsed each small detail.

Your dedication must ensure,

This summons cannot fail.

A flash of fire, a brimstone stench,

A cloud of greasy smoke.

That’s all you get for your hard work,

Like some sad cosmic joke.

You snuff the candles, kick the book,

Then profane circle break.

With towel try to staunch the blood,

You gave for your lord’s sake.

You tried so hard, believed so strong,

Believed the Lord of Lies,

The only sound, the drip of blood,

And hungry, buzzing flies.

But don’t despair, for something came,

In answer to your call.

A nightmare thought, a dream so dark,

Ten million souls shall fall.

But you won’t care, you won’t be here,

Your sacrifice complete.

Your Dark Lord wears your body now,

Your soul the first he’ll eat.

So think on this before you etch,

That circle on the floor.

The Prince of Lies will lie to you,

Write lies in books of yore.

Now think it through oh foolish one,

Think of the price you’ll pay.

And turn aside from this dark path,

To live for one more day.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Creativity Project: Poetry.

On By WinstonIn Dark / Gothic, Personal Creativity Project,, PoetryLeave a comment

Reading some Poe earlier lent tonights verse a more macabre air.  Infidelity, vengeance and remorse…. Enjoy!

Ghost of a Romance

You come to me, you cling to me,
You beg what I can’t give.
You shade, you fade, oh spectre rude,
I can’t help you to live.

You shriek, beseech, and weep at me,
You swear you were so wrong.
You never loved, could never love,
To someone else belong.

But I walked in, I saw the truth,
The two of you entwined.
Then something broke, my heart was broke,
And broken too my mind.

I don’t recall, I can’t recall,
What happened to this day.
But I suspect the worst because,
You’re hounding me this way.

Forgive me love, for love we shared,
When love was bright and new.
And I’ll forgive, forgive you love,
That peace may come to you.

Cheers, Winston

Personal Poetry Challenge Day Forty

On By WinstonIn Personal Poetry Writing Challenge, PoetryLeave a comment

Tonight I decided it’s time to revisit the supernatural side of things again.  Possibly from spending the last couple of days at the Ottawa Comiccon .

Ancient, Inevitable, Darkness

The nightmare stalks, it haunts this place,
More dreadful than you know.
So many now have come and gone,
A dark seeps from below.

There’s hands that grab or push or slap,
Footsteps where none are seen.
There’s things that move or disappear,
Things that could not have been.

The lights turn on the lights turn off,
When none are in the room.
And more than this there is an air,
Of dark, oppressive gloom.

We do not know what walks within,
Walked there before we came.
No matter what we think we know,
Less certain than we claim.

No one can stay within this house,
Though some will always try.
No matter who no matter what,
If they don’t flee they die.

It has been there so very long,
Been there since times untold.
Has watched and waited all that time,
For it’s plans to unfold.

Do not go man this ancient house,
Avoid it’s shadowed door.
Pray what’s within remain within,
Trapped there forever more.

Cheers, Winston