Current Events
"Why so serious?
"I just took the Electro-Static Discharge training class at work, and I failed."
"Really, how come? "
"The teacher said I didn't know how to conduct myself. "
"Wow, you must be the first person ever to fail that class."
"Yeah, it shocked the whole class"
"So now what?"
"Well, they grounded me for two weeks."
"That's awful!"
"It could have been worse, I could have been discharged."
"Will you take it again?
"I doubt it, I've built up too much resistance towards it. Plus, it had too much Ohm work, and who wants to stay caged up inside on such a Faraday?"
Crawling
Worms in your bones, throbbing in starvation
you opened my veins to let crimson blood flow
wounds too deep, healing incomplete
tunnel light love retreats as I crawl on all fours
bloody wrists leave a trail of crimson chills
Scraped hands and knees, oh please, oh please
elevate me from the pounding rain of my tears
replace my bones before they rot in the ground
bandage my wounds from your continuing abuse
I’m crawling back to you like a moth to light, but
I realize I’ve drowned in your seas too many times
worms in your bones, throbbing in starvation.
Dolls
She lined up the family of dolls on an afghan covered sofa and stood back to admire her work. There was the Mama dressed up in her ‘going to church’ outfit wearing her ugly comfort shoes. Papa was scowling, holding his briefcase in front of him as if to ward off bothersome children. The little flaxen haired doll, Benny, was holding his arm back as if to throw a baseball. Beautiful little Jenny was wearing her pink smocked party dress and black patent leather shoes.
She noticed their clothes were getting a little rumpled, so she’d have to wash and iron them. Their heads were beginning to loll on their chests so she planned to reinforce them with rods to stand straight.
Oh yes, she was proud of her little tableau of dolls. But what was she going to do about that rotten smell emanating from their bodies?
Ethereal
On a dingy devil day
I looked my demons
in the eye and sang
“Shadows of Darkness
come a calling for me -
“Uh Huh! Uh Huh!”
I’ll sharpen my teeth
on your mildewed flesh,
throw salt in open wounds
hell bent with
ripe musky scent,
lulled by your insanity
“Uh Huh! Uh Huh!”
But now I feel
warm fingers of light
angel walking by my side
whispers in clouds
of heavenly breath
roaring of tides,
cool vapor of mist
sheltered in celestial rays.
Wrap your wings
around me, oh angel
weightless body
floating, sheltered,
angel of my eyes
“Uh Huh! Uh Huh!”
Propagation
The Origin
1- 1 When it began, the Goddess sang-
Existence made its way.
Explosions carved the universe
As She unfolded clay.
2 The earth held nothing in its form
Aside from empty dark.
The Goddess crafted sod and sea;
Her spirit made its mark.
3 The angels She created next-
Of wing and feral might.
Emblazoned with a fiery core,
An army willed to fight.
4 And then She said, “Come forth, the light!”
She saw that this was good.
Amazed, the ushered breath and beast;
She crafted earth and wood.
5 A separation of the void,
She called them night and day.
A sphere of fire to keep the morn,
A moon where dark would stay.
6 Upon the realm of Midgard’s turf
In waters rushing flow,
The Goddess spoke and ushered fish
Beneath the undertow.
7 Upon the lands, the angels flew
Ensuring life evolved.
The smallest to the greatest spread,
A manifest resolved.
8 The Goddess called her angels back,
Decreeing, “Be it so-
That all I make shall reproduce-
Increasing ebb and flow.”
9 And Midgard teemed with floral growth;
The fauna filled the land.
The angels blessed the beast and bird
As was their first command.
10 Although the world begotten brimmed
In life of every thing,
The Goddess felt an emptiness
Compelling her to sing.
11 A garden formed of lush delight
Encapsulating all
Invoked as She unleashed a song
And wrought mankind in thrall.
12 The major chords she ushered forth
Ensnared the dirt and mud,
And in her image came the first-
A human, flesh and blood.
Lilith and Adam
2- 1 And so it was, creation bloomed-
The Goddess placed her spark
Embedding every living thing
Between the light and dark.
2 Around the garden walked abroad
A woman of the earth.
The Goddess smiled at what she saw,
Creating in her mirth.
3 She called her Lilith, wrath of storm,
The Goddess lullaby.
She raised her up above the beasts;
The angels in the sky.
4 And though all pleasures she partook,
A sorrow swallowed whole.
The Goddess made the woman sleep
To form another soul.
5 The moment She began her song,
A rib from Lilith spurned
Another- man- as Adam came-
And passion in him burned.
6 Now, Lilith did not like the man-
He tried to rule her form.
But she refused his thirsty lust;
No, she would not conform.
The Descent
3- 1 Rejected, he walked through the wood
Until he heard a voice-
“Dear Adam, you have much to learn-
My son, you have a choice.”
2 The dragon, once called Lucifer,
Had fallen from a star.
Enticing Adam with his lies,
He whispered, “There you are!”
3 As Adam stood before the beast,
A newfound feeling swelled.
“What can I do to make her mine?
To make her heart compelled?”
4 “Oh, Adam, you have every right-
Absolve your flesh in her.”
The great deceiver coaxed his prey
And Adam would concur.
5 Unknown to either of the two,
The Goddess crafted more-
She called them dwarves and others elves,
The myths of ancient lore.
6 As it would be, a dwarf about
The garden heard the plan.
He raced to Lilith, full of fear,
And thus betrayed the man.
7 The garden, Eden it was called,
Invited Adam home.
And Lilith waited, open arms;
Beside her stood a gnome.
8 “So, Mother has created more-
And here you wait for me.
I have a tale to share with you-
An act to set you free."
9 Upon these words, the dwarf appeared
And angels flew below
Arresting Adam ere he stood,
For what, he did not know.
10 “What meaning do you have for this!
I am of Goddess craft!”
Ignoring him, they tied him up
And placed him on a raft.
11 As Lilith watched him float away,
She noticed in his grasp
A piece of fruit from off a tree
Secured within a clasp.
12 The crafty dragon then appeared
And freed the man to dine.
“The Tree of Good and Evil- yes!
Behold- it is now mine!”
13 Of all they were allowed to eat,
The fruit from off one tree
The Goddess had forbidden them-
It birthed eternity.
14 As Adam fled atop the beast,
An an angel came to guard
The entrance into Eden’s realm-
A blazing, shining shard.
15 The dwarves and elves rejoiced to see
The man depart their land.
As Lilith utilized her skills,
The Goddess found it grand.
16 A blessing over Eden’s girth,
Reviving all inside
And laugher flourished plant to plane-
A gift she would provide.
Fallen Angels and Adam’s Daughters
4- 1 Outside of Eden, Adam’s lust
Increased as he would find
A race of creatures, humanoid,
In which his loins would grind.
2 The offspring grew in wonderment
And angels fell from grace
The same as Lucifer had been,
Succumbing in that place.
3 As Adam had him many wives,
So, too, the angels took
To bed his daughters, full of sin,
Depicted in this book.
4 Abominations they produced,
The giants and monsters spawned
Devoured the outer world around
As evil newly dawned.
5 And still they could not enter in
The gates of Eden’s port.
The Goddess kept her promises
And Lilith ruled her court.
6 The angels, each a different brand-
A lion, and eagle, and
A bull defended Lilith’s woods-
And kept filth from her land.
7 For Adam daily tried his best
To take back all denied.
And yet the Goddess blocked attempts
No matter how he tried.
8 The dwarves and elves and other kind
Among the woodland’s hold
Arose to worship Lilith’s Queen
And forged the Goddess gold.
9 Too closely to the outside world
A few dwarves ventured near.
The monsters sensed the wealth and vowed
To offer hateful fear.
10 Again, day out and in, they tried
But Eden’s troupe prevailed.
It seemed a futile quest, indeed
For every time, they failed.
11 The dragon formed a vengeful plan,
And Adam fell in line.
No matter how they changed the course,
The Goddess proved divine.
12 And I would know, for She is me-
We are one in the same.
The garden holds a hidden myth,
And Lilith is her name …
The Evil Black Sheep with Red Laser Eyes
I open my groggy eyes, and I am lying on my back on peaty ground surrounded in reed grasses. My toes are a little sore... OH YEAH, that's why. Last night, I was sitting on my bed talking to my friend and then out of nowhere, these evil black sheep with red laser eyes appeared and chased me from my room. Of course I ran, they were creepy, and once I got outside I was able to spread my arms and fly from them. I remember the sheep chasing me until my arms got too tired from flapping so I had to land in this swamp. The sheep found me, and one sat on me to hold me down while the others chewed on my toes. It doesn't really hurt, but their teeth are like little needles sticking into my feet. I just sort of laid there, and then I fell asleep. I wake up now on my back, the sheep gone, and my toes sore. Of course, I have to walk home because for some weird reason I can only fly on starry nights.
Companion Pieces Regarding Irish Banshees
A while back, I was challenged to put together a story about a not-so-popular creature of darkness. Having an innate love of Irish lore, I chose the banshee. The story came first, and then I wrote the sonnet as a companion piece. Enjoy.
"The Caoine of Eevul"
“They have forgotten us, Eevul. We are nothing more than legend to them now.”
“Aye, I know. But they are still ours, and we have our duty.”
She turned then, arms outstretched, meeting the gazes of each woman in turn. “Sisters, long has it been since the great families of Ireland left our emerald shores and sailed away to that far off new world. But that does not change who they are. Or who we are.”
“But they will not hear us. They will not know.”
Eevul shook her head. “Some will hear. Some will know, and that will have to be enough. What’s coming–what the dawn will bring–it will touch each of our families. We are the Bean Sidhe of Ireland. We have no choice but to keen.”
She waited, letting her words hang in the cool, crisp air of the autumn night. One by one, her sisters nodded; their assent brought a sense of relief, but no joy. Her heart heavy, she turned and led them to their faerie hill.
Since the beginning of time, they’d stood here and sang. Back when the Tuatha Dé Danann ruled and the faeries ventured from their raths, free to dance along the wind. Always, this had been their place. It was still, and forever would it be.
Mist rose from the grass as the banshees crested the mound. Intertwining, it embraced them, welcoming them like long lost lovers. Eevul breathed deep, accepting the mantle of power as it settled on her shoulders. Her fate was not an easy one to bear; it was heavy, cumbersome and often, unwanted. But it was hers. Theirs. Tonight they would carry it together, worn with grief, yet led by duty.
Tall and proud, she stepped to the head of the circle, her sisters gathering around her. She raised her arms and lifted her face to the sky, crimson locks raining fire down her back, skin pale in the moonlight.
“Now is the time, sisters. Take my hands, as I take yours. Share my sorrow, as I share yours. Sing my song, as I sing yours. Will you do this?”
“I will.”
“Aye.”
“So shall it be.”
A chorus of consent surrounded her, the voices of her sisters raised up in acceptance. Warm fingers gripped hers, locking tightly. She held on, grateful. Their presence blanketed her in comfort, enveloping her and granting her the security necessary to do what this night demanded. She needed her sisters, for they were all she had left. It was true; the O’Brien’s had forgotten her, letting her fade into nothing but a myth.
If that only were so. But she could not forget.
When all had joined hands, when the circle was complete, they began. Standing upon their ancient hill, arms outstretched and raised in offering, their voices lifted in a wailing lament. The sound was shrill, yet harmonious, as the plethora of their voices blended into a single keen of mournful despair.
Power flowed, racing across the land and over the sea, carrying their song far and wide. The wind rose up, whipping through Eevul’s hair, her silver robe slapping against skin chilled by desolation. It mimicked their notes, shrieking through slumbering villages and across barren graveyards, where only the ghosts of the dead dared to walk.
Through it all, Eevul endured the shattering of her heart. Come the dawn, many would be lost. She could not save them. All she could do was hope, futile as it was, that perhaps, if the gods were willing, her people might somehow hear her. Twin tears streaked down her cheeks, but her voice did not falter. She couldn’t stop the sign of sadness, but she was too proud to fail.
For what seemed an eternity, the harsh melody of the banshees sounded. In their beds, wrinkled men shivered and old crones shook. They heard. They knew.
Finally, the strength of her voice gave out; her song ended. One by one, the voices of her sisters died away until only an eerie silence remained. Goosebumps popped up along her flesh. She ignored them. Tossing her head, she again met the gaze of each of her sisters in turn.
“You have done well this night. I thank you. May each of you find peace in the coming storm.”
Nodding in return, they all dropped hands, laced fingers falling away, the circle shattered into pieces. With whispered murmurs, they turned and moved down the hill, fading away, swallowed up by the darkness.
Eevul watched them go. A dissonant peace settled over her, as it always did after a keen. There was nothing more she could do. Sending up a prayer that the gods be merciful, she closed her eyes and disappeared into nothing.
***
The sun rose on New York City early that morning. Lissa O’Brien woke, discomforted, the echoes of an unknown voice resounding in her head. A dream … She was sure she’d had a dream. But her mind was an empty page, offering her no hints. Why did she feel like something was wrong?
She sat up, groggy from sleep and rubbed her eyes. Glancing around, her gaze fell on a note next to her pillow. Her husband’s sloppy handwriting scrawled across the paper.
Hey honey, had to go into the office early this morning. Didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you tonight. I love you.
A chill scuttled down Lissa’s spine as an unexplainable sense of dread settled over her. Her husband never went into work early. Why today? And why did she feel as though she’d never hold him in her arms again? It had to be that dream. Something about that dream …
She shook herself. She was being morbid. Silly. She just needed coffee. Swinging her legs from the bed, she rose and walked into the kitchen. Out of habit, she grabbed the remote and flipped the television on.
The scream that ripped through her lungs was one of shock and denial. Her legs collapsed beneath her. As she slipped from consciousness, her gaze passed over the wall calendar hanging above the television. The date seared itself along the back of her eyes.
September 11, 2001.
"Song of the Banshees"
There is a hill in emerald Ireland.
’Tis an old faerie hill the old men say
and when the wind blows fierce off Ardmore Bay
the banshees appear and their voices blend.
Their long locks crimson, skin pale as the moon,
they stand on the hill, their strong arms spread wide
wailing and keening with sorrowful pride
warning the folk of an impending doom.
On a cold, autumn night, some years ago
the banshees’ shrill wails rose mournful and long
yet harshly harmonious was their song:
An omen to mark the coming sorrow.
On the next morn, three thousand miles away,
the two towers fell before our shocked gaze.
#poetry #prose #darkfantasy #Ireland #banshees
The soul of a Ghoul...
I don't find it terrifying...
The ghoul.
But mostly intriguing....
You define yourself as an innocent fairy beauty trap among filth...
Maybe you are right....maybe we are no more than dirt who chunk pieces of flesh and nourish from blood, sinful wickedness....Beast who take pleasure in crushing the body and heart of our inner desire..
Impurity...
That how you describe us: Impurity, Obscenity, Calamity...
Depravity.
Pleasant words to our ears...
At least, you know from the start what we want from you,
You know of our heinousness and infamy...
Whereas you deceive by your angelic features.
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“ Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air. ”
_William Shakespeare, Macbeth_
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Speaking Trees
I step into the forest, all I want is to escape my stifling family. Sometimes I cannot stand love, caring, or attachment. These dark woods are my refuge. Each tree stands sentinel to my pain, rage, and anguish. The strong armed oak, my lover. The sorrowful tendrils of the willow, my mother. The tall, scraggly, mountain pine, my best friend. We talk through slow deliberation, electric thoughts sent through the soil from my toes to their roots. I wish I could be one of them, the trees, strong, peaceful, elegant, and everlasting. I slowly burrow my toes into the ground, the soft soil caresses my feet. Oak whispers to me. Zap, Zap, Zap. He sends his thoughts telling me that it is okay. I reach my arms up as if to pull nourishment from the sun and leave behind my problems. Reaching, reaching, I spread my fingers, tipped with dew and Willow sings to me.
Zap, Zap, Zap. I wish my real mother would do that. She never sings. All she does is tell me to stop hanging around my trees in the woods. I should make friends, but she doesn't know that I do have friends and all she is doing is pulling me away. I hear the whine of my sister's annoying voice lifted upon the wind that winds through my long hair like a white silky scarf. I don't hate my family, I just can't take them all the time. I wish I could become a tree. ZZZip. I send that thought to Oak, Willow, and Pine, but a different voice answers. It rasps Is that really what you want? I respond carefully and whisper I think so.