Tag: macabre poem

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 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

NaPoWriMo Day Eight

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, PoetryLeave a comment

So I was talking to friend of mine who mentioned that they really liked the macabre stuff that I did for NaPoWriMo last year. This one’s for you Mike.

Nightwalker

The cold wind blows the dead leaves through,
My ankles in the dark.
The moon between the clouds may shed,
It’s light upon the park.

The moaning wind and rustling leaves,
Drown nearly every sound.
Like the tread of pursuing feet,
‘Cross moonlight silvered ground.

If anyone should chance to look,
From their home safe and tight.
They’d see naught but some shadows pass,
Dark shapes in dark, dark night.

You can’t see us for we’re not here,
Weren’t here the night before.
For all this happened long ago,
One hundred years or more.

Those who pursued at last did catch, And worked their evil will.
Now my bones lie within the marsh,
Beneath this very hill.

If you don’t want me roaming here,
Would like to sleep at night.
Then find my bones and see that I,
At last am buried right.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day:13 The Dream

On By WinstonIn NaPoWriMo, PersonalLeave a comment

Today’s NaPoWriMo entry grew out of just the first two lines. They were all I had when I started it. There was no sense of narrative or where it might go. I just allowed it the freedom to write itself. Probably the closest thing in here to “stream of consciousness”. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy.!

The Dream

I dreamed I walked along the shore
Beside a raging sea.
Above the screaming gulls wheeled by
It seemed they called to me.

Out on the sea I watched a brig
Run full before the gale.
She flew along like she had wings
And dared her mast to fail.

I turned and saw upon a rise
A horse as grey as smoke.
There on it’s back a fair young child
And as I looked she spoke.

Her words were lost beneath the noise
Of thunderous waves behind.
She tried again then turned her steed
Rode off, left me behind.

I tried so hard to follow her
But she was out of sight.
And then the next thing that I knew
Twas cloudy, moonless night.

I staggered through the batt’ring wind
How long I do not know.
When ‘tween the madly swaying trees
I saw the faintest glow.

Still on I strove far up a hill
The rain was pouring down.
Then through the darkness and the rain
One light became a town.

I plunged ahead my only thought
To reach the shelter there.
I did not see the precipice
Stepped off into the air.

I twisted as I dropped and saw
The girl on her grey.
And finally heard her words so clear
“You fool, don’t go that way! ”

Cheers, Winston