Saturday, August 31, 2013

Lament Of Innocence



Lament Of Innocence


Once again I awake as her shrieks abruptly shake
My senses and I am ripped from a world of dreams
Once again my heart pounds as I shudder at the sound
Of her cries as they turn from faint whispers to piercing screams

It happens every night my eyes wide with fright
As I behold my lost love's phantasmal form
Her eyes black as pitch with the crooked smile of a witch
She sways back and forth in a white dress well-worn

In life she was kind and sweeter than sangria wine
What a beauty she was to behold
Now she drags rusty chains and though her young form still remains,
Her face has waxed dreadfully old

'Twas three years ago when we took in a show
At the old district music box bijou
She was silken and fine and dressed to the nines
Her presence could do naught but please you

The players all bowed to the large, dispersing crowd
And the curtain was lowered to the floor
We walked in the rain down North Southport Lane
And we talked 'neath the steady downpour

We married that fall at The Crystal Garden Hall 
She was bathed in fine satin and lace
With our lives intertwined soon I would find
A horror that most could not face

One late Autumn night I thought that I might
Take a stroll to the park there close by
I left her in dreams 'neath the palish blue beams
And the glow of the streetlights outside

An hour flew by and as midnight drew nigh 
I made my way up the steep, winding stairs
My door had been pried, and my love how she cried
I had indeed caught the thief most unawares

I ran to my wife but found no sign of life
In her eyes as the blood poured from her chest
I fell to the floor then stumbled out the door
In pursuit of a most uninvited guest 

Only shadows remained as I struggled to gain
Some control of the vengeance that boiled
With the heavy heart which she kept I solemnly wept
For my life had been irreparably spoiled  

So here I must lie amidst my lover's shrill cries
And the sound of the chains on the floor
She points here and there, but I am left unaware
Of that which of me she does adamantly implore

But what could this be? She now speaks to me!
Her words are like whispers from within
She speaks of that eve, and with no merciful reprieve
She states that my sanity has indeed worn quite thin

'Twas I that had burst through the door and what's worse
Is that this I do not remember
'Twas her heart that I broke with one tempestuous stroke
On that cold, fateful night in November

She fixes her gaze on the rafters as she fades
Her spirit now able to sleep
With a rope I will hang for only my sins now remain 
And my heart, may the devil rightly keep

By Justin Huskey Copyright 2013

   

















































































 































30 comments:

  1. Whew, that was an intense write, a fascinating story exploring a bit of the 'dark side.' Gives me a few chills.

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    1. Just the reaction I was hoping for, Mary. Thank you so much for reading.

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  2. justin....really great rhythm in this...and storytelling as well...an early line that caught me, Now she drags rusty chains and though her young form still remains...wow...def some poe inspirations here....

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    1. Thank you, Brian. I am delighted that you enjoyed it. I am partial to that line also. Thank you so much for reading.

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  3. What an emotional and haunting story Justin!

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    1. Thank you so much, Gabriella. I am glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading.

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  4. Thank you so much, Loredana. I appreciate that. Those are two of my favorite writers. Thank you for reading.

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  5. Oy! A twist at the end when the narrator realizes it was he who dealt the blow. Intense and chilling. Well told.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sherry. I am so very glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading.

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  6. Very Poe-ish, keeping the creepy rhythm going ..

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    1. The comparison to Poe is all too flattering, Susan. Thank you so much for the kind words, and thank you for reading.

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  7. Your use of form and language do bring Poe to mind. Good twist at the end.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary. Poe is my primary source of inspiration. I appreciate the comparison more than you know. Thank you for reading.

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed it, LaTonya. Thank you so much for reading.

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  9. I can appreciate how much work you put into this ballad. Its gothic atmosphere is very Poe-esque, but your originality has not been lost.

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    1. Thank you so much. That means a lot to me. I struggle (As most poets do I imagine) with fears of my work being unoriginal at times. What a wonderful compliment that is. Thank you so much for reading, and thank you again for making this poet's day.

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  10. Dark, yes, and tragic. But the darkness was handled with a deft hand. Enjoyed it very very much.

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    1. Thank you so very much. I appreciate the kind words more than you know. I am so very delighted that you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

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  11. Oh, wow. I agree about the intensity and the echoes of Poe (yet still quite original). You're a good storyteller, that's for sure. I don't always like darkness, but you managed to captivate me clear through - and what a surprise toward the end. Well done.

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    1. Thank you so much, Janet. I appreciate the kind words:) I am so very elated that you enjoyed it and that it held strong till the end. Thank you so much for reading.

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  12. dark, i liked! and what a wicked twist to the tale. :)

    in our culture, the sound of dragging chains may be associated with death. that's what makes this poem (at least for me) more strong.

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    1. Wow! That is fascinating:) I am so very glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for reading.

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  13. A dark and mysterious story with quite a twist at the end! Strong work!

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    1. Thank you:) I am glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for reading.

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  14. What a turn in the story, dark and haunting till the end ~ Really well crafted post ~

    Nice to meet you ~

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    1. Nice to meet you as well, Grace. Thank you so much for reading, and I am so very glad that you enjoyed it.

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  15. Good flow and vivid images. Dark yes, but that can be enticing to the reader.

    Elizabeth

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    1. Indeed, Elizabeth. I find it very enticing myself. I seem to have an eye for the macabre... They do say to write what you know, lol. Thank you for reading:)

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  16. I enjoyed that. I'm going to have to come back later and read it again, give it chance to 'sink in'.

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