Saturday, October 31, 2009

deathly adventure

it happened this way.
but you can hear Death's own gentle voice.
you do not turn to look at her.
I would not advise it.
if you do turn, she might smile at you.
her smile not a child's smile,
or a woman's smile.
she will tell your story,

"it happened this way-
I was on the road.
I could be anywhere.
does it matter which road?
it is small, cobbled and potholed;
it lead from one place to another
horses trot there,.
dogs mark their places;
so why not I?"

pausing, Death twirls her skirt.
sometimes she likes playing a mortal.
it amuses her.
you wait for her to continue
you barely ever notice the shift of time,
the clouds covering the Earth like canopy;
the sudden icy sting
on that bright sunny day

"It happens this way, always
I will blow over you,
watch the blood drip slowly
over your limbs
soaking your clothes
before I can no longer
watch your agony.
I will rip your heart
before I walk away with your soul."


32 comments:

sage said...

Another good "Halloween" post!

murat11 said...

A kick-ass stately radiance, this. Death do have a lush voice, don't she? Loved the Sometimes she likes playing a mortal line.

Yellow Tulip said...

happy Halloween:),...lovely post:)

keiths rmblings said...

A perfect piece for tonight! Loved it - but then I always enjoy your poems!

swapna said...

"Sudden icy sting...on that bright sunny day".....brilliant portrayal of the death that lurks around.Fine Poem.

Granny Smith said...

Wow! This is really great - especially on this shivery Halloween.

Old Egg said...

"You barely ever notice the shift of time" yet she is surely waiting for us.

Beautiful thought provoking piece.

Anonymous said...

i like this portrayal of death!
eerie, yet that perfect piece! :)

good one! belated happy halloween! :)

Amias (ljm and liquidplastic) said...

Ouch! This was a good scary post, and death as a woman, now that's truly scary.


Join the fun at Acrostic Only!

Amity said...

eerie rendition of the prompt but it's timely as it is Halloween!

sudden death is a real shift in time, from life to death it is!

Loch Rob said...

Great post for Halloween. Vivid images too. We should not taunt the immortality of death. It comes when we least expect it.

SandyCarlson said...

As I read the conclusion, I thought such deaths are not always physical. This is tantalizing.

George S Batty said...

ooooooh, shiverd the woods I live in. Old Grizz crawled into his cave and will stay there all winter.

Shadowplay said...

This gave me the chills... what great description throughout. So many good lines (I see some of my faves already mentioned!).

Sherri B. said...

Wonderful! You made death so sinister and calculating...I loved this one.

Thom Gabrukiewicz said...

Spooky good.

Pirates

Tumblewords: said...

From the cauldron to the fire - wonderful!

Jukota said...

I was particularly drawn to the permanence of: It happens this way. Leaves no room for a question. Very penetrating!

Dee Martin said...

I like how you portrayed the randomness of it - death dancing through the streets and pointing a finger. this one, that one. Very dark.

Gel said...

That last stanza jabbed me hard. Haunting writing.

Miss Demure Restraint said...

Death as the feminine . . . simply delightful. My first time here, but I'll be back.

Miss D

Maggie said...

This certainly fits the Halloween time shift.

Gave me bits of shivers reading it.

if said...

original way to say that....!!

Gel said...

BTW, I've been reading you regularly again and posting very often for poetry train and Sun. Scribblings. I miss your comments.

Tammie Lee said...

me thinks this is a bit intense,
it twas the last line that made me feel so.Perfect for Halloween and shift of time....

PS the Pratsie said...

your words always leave their mark !

indicaspecies said...

Oh wow, this is intense.
I hope finally for me it will be a gentle voice... ;)

Cassiopeia Rises said...

Oh Tami, this is really very powerful. A wonderful take on the prompt.



love,Melanie

Anonymous said...

lovely post!!

i love all the halloween posts..

Jim said...

Tami, you have a thriller here! Reading it I didn't think of Halloween but surely it fits.

I liked the last verse, throughout the others I was thinking your writer would escape death. Now after the dripping and soul escaping all that will be left on the road is a little white cross.

Sorry I am so late in coming. I celebrated my Birthday four days this weekend and only posted. Now I have the Dickens to catch up. I may not. My birthday running away adventure is being posted on my other blog.
..

Anonymous said...

you barely notice the shift in time...

I really enjoyed the portayal of Death as a woman, in her twirling skirts, beguiling, seductive, playful and very deadly.

A great piece! Thank you

Patti said...

Love the perfect harmony with hallpween!