Re: A poem :-)
I thought I would continue along with Beren's thread....hope you don't mind Brother.
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Night Traveler
The harbinger of night is nothing more than candlelight
Sun breeds the day and winds sweep the night
Darkness clings to the root of the earth
Hiding all since its birth
Creatures sing…The moon rises
Sounds that call and entices
A traveler on the road of night
No torch...no pony…..no firelight
The silver orb guides his way
Hoping to see his home someday
Moving slow and not with ease
The traveler pushes on past darkened trees
The lane of day bodes ill at night
For a traveler bereft of sunlight
Save that of the moon, reflecting the sun
Darkness envelopes, smothers…shadows run
The owl is no friend to our traveling soul
Nor the hare cringing in his dark hole
The traveler pushes on toward home unseen
Walking slow past shadowy scenes
For the mind is quick eyed and weary
Tricks it plays as darkness and shadow marry
Pushes on he must….the trees groan
From pillar to post for hearth and home
He is the traveler lost and lone
Each step feeling like steps of stone
Off in the distance a silhouette he sees
Nothing familiar can it be
The night plays tricks like a desert oasis
Leading him into more dark places
But a light he sees..a sanctuary it must be
A place to ease the chill in his bones
A place that he may not feel so alone
As the soul draws near…the outline appears
Appearances of a church with cross held high
A symbol of hope as he draws nigh
But a forbidding place cloaked in Dark
Moonlight bathed…darkness as wolves bark
A single light shines from the cracked door
The traveler wishing there be more
No comfort of any form this place be
No sanctuary can he see
No trees…no green..only stones that grow from the earth
Names chiseled in them for death and birth
He approaches slowly…all breathes are gasps
For the night surrounds him and courage lapses
Peering in an old foyer found
Not used in centuries….no one around
A single light close to the altar
Each inch a mile….each step falters
Our timid traveler moves into the shadows
Thinking this is all a mistake now
Stepping into the aisle fear grips his heart
Hearing low chanting from places deep in the dark
From behind the altar in a dark hallway appears
7 hooded monks…faces down to the altar draw near
The travelers face white as linen sheet
Peering through the darkness at 7 forms complete
Circling round the altar and chanting grows louder
The robes disturb no dust that lies in fine powder
No shadows dance and cling from candlelight
These things are shadows themselves on this dark cold night
A witness they must have …a voyeur they do seek
The scene plays out as his knees become weak
Praying and chanting in horrible moans
The 7 look downward as the chorus drones
Raise their dark faces to the rafters
Pleading for forgiveness and peace in the here after
The gods have turned away
Their souls walk after their days
7 damned to this earth for one reason
The gods punish harshly acts of treason
In the dark they pray for forgiveness
All to listen is one solitary witness
Slowly they rise and move in file
Moving staggers down the aisle
They move into the night on silent feet
6 pass as the 7th turns as if to greet
Under the darkened hood there is no face
But a voice issues from the dark space
“We are the damned…now and forever!”
“Our sins are our own that none can remember”
Turning slowly making for the door
The 7th stops and turns once more
“Be true in this life and the next!”
“Or stand with us as our 8th guest!!”
Turning to follow the traveler emerges
Into the dark as the 7 chant their dirges
Down the dark road, they file out of sight
“Remember!” is all he hears as they vanish into the night
And the traveler will remember all that has been seen
Even if later it all seems a dark dream
Moving for home and fearing nothing
For all he has seen the night no terror brings
“Remember!!” he will to the end of his days
THE END
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