Walking the shores in the fading light
my shadow stretches, dark as night,
following me closely across the moist sands,
grotesquely changing as it shrinks and expands.
Like carrion eaters, my thoughts pick at me
eating the tender parts of my memory.
Happiness gone, love that has fled,
They reach from the grave like the hands of the dead.
A stillness ensues and fear chills my bones.
I am aware I’m no longer alone.
Whirling about, my eyes rake the strand
and find only my lonely footprints in the sand.
The skin of my arms rise in fear’s dance;
cold eyes look through me sharp as a lance.
“It’s just memorie’s ghosts” I say in my mind.
I continue to walk and ignore what’s behind.
Broken shards of sunlight tear holes in a cloud
but the darkness within continues to shroud;
no peace can I find from the acts that I’ve done
and my own inner demons keep me from the sun.
A movement! I catch it from the corner of my eyes.
I turn and see only where my shadow lies.
Still, I sense more than see a slight hesitation
then from within my shadow comes a dark creation.
Gaunt and deformed it grows on its own
It whispers dark words that are more than a moan.
Red eyes burn deeply though it has no face.
It reaches and takes me in a lover’s embrace.
With an inhuman coldness it touches and probes.
I feel its sharpness from under its robes.
Thin hands grab my breasts and run over my hips
and I feel its mouth press through skeletal lips.
With the glacial coldness I find I can’t move.
My screams lie in my throat and I see it remove
the hood that has concealed my present fate.
Malevolent eyes shine in face filled with hate.
I hear of it’s jealousy of those that are alive.
It sucks life like blood and that’s how it survives.
It’s obscene intimate touch is meant to strike fear
which it hungrily devours as it drinks my tears.
With the last strength that I have, I offer up a prayer
but in death’s domain God really doesn’t care.
Like a dying ember, I slowly fade from sight
while my traitorous shadow returns to the night.
Author notes
Somehow, I got delinked from my RSVP and lost your comment assigning me the prompt... This is the one you gave me.
KayJay46 (aka Ken)
Prompt: Picture
Picture Credit: http://night-fate.deviantart.com/art/the-follower-84969420
20 to 100 lines
A contest entry
- Picture Contest by BarbedWireButterfly.
1420 points, ended August 27, 24 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Critical Comments Always Welcome
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Sorry about your link being lost. Someone else had the same problem with them being deleted from my contest which I don't remember doing. Oh well, back to the poem. An interesting take on the prompt. Some bits sounded a tad awkward but those were rare through out the poem. Thank you for entering and good luck
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excellent
A stillness ensues and fear chills my bones.
I am aware I’m no longer alone.
Whirling about, my eyes rake the strand
and find only my lonely footprints in the sand.
Imagery is good related to FEAR.But you have taken it up on many occasions within the poem.Did you mean that FEAR does all that to you.If yes,then you a very good write on.thanks for sharing. Please visit some of my poetry and offer your comments.I would appreciate that.
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nice
nicely penned for the prompt . . good use of descriptions . . flows well . . liked "The skin of my arms rise in fear's dance" and "Broken shards of sunlight tear holes in a cloud" . . chilling as well . . good luck in the contest
. Rewarded 4
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Absolutely, Brilliantly, Smashingly Maahvahlous!!!
WOW!!! You've really outdone yourself, poet! This is one of your very best pieces, and a very interesting mix of metaphoric surrealism and intelligent word architecture, shimmering in the dew of yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's humanity... a story well told with the brilliance of genius layered throughout! You painted a rich scene with efflorescent flourish!! Great title, by the way, with outstanding imagery... I'm glad I clicked on your wonderful poem today. Best of luck to you in this contest, this is an earmarked, bookmarked winner!!! Take care, Peace, Cyn
. Rewarded 8
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Such exuberance
… Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Ken
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You did a really great job.. I really like the way this flowed and the imagery was vivid too! good luck in the contest!!
Maeve
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this is good the imagery is spot on, the rhymns at times seemed a little forced, but besides that i relly like this, best of luck in the contest
. Rewarded 4
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Wow, this is an ambitious and entertaining narrative. Could be good read over the dying embers of a Halloween bon-fire.
. Rewarded 4
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This is very well done, good luck in the contest. Love, C
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I hate the feeling that something is there.
well done
Cheryl
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