The Return of the One
In shallow graves lay withered bones
that once had walked with strength in life
but sharpened knives and broader swords
took breath with Death upon his scythe
And stones were placed upon the mound
as heathen crowds would gather still
the clans would pray for her return
as winds blew forth a deathly chill
Delores watched from high and far
as songs were sung and blood was splayed
the throats were cut in sacrifice
whilst bodies thrived upon the stage
The Jackal pawed the sacred earth
and sniffed the lust that rode the air
the scarecrow smirked and felt his blade
and knew that life would not be spared
As mist would sweep across the ground
and hide the surge of man and beast
who flashed their teeth in maddened rage
and gorged upon a blood fuelled feast
Delores cried and felt the pain
as clans would strike and show no fear
tonight they died in spite of death
amongst the graves of yesteryear
**************
The Return of the One is the latest poem in the Darkened Tales Series.
I also share this with One Shot Wednesday, part of One Stop Poetry, a great platform for poets to meet, share, learn and embrace, which starts 10pm Tuesday night and remains open for submissions all day Wednesday
image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinb/
55 comments:
this is one that needs to be read over and over...well done.
cheers
I love this series, Pete, and am glad you've got a new poem for it. Even if I get chilld reading it. Well done, sir.
It's cold in the room in which I'm sitting and the wind is howling outside; reading this, all I needed was for everything to go dark. What a vivid scene you create. As I may have said before, you are one of the very few people who do justice with rhyme.
Awesome
Love the history you bring into you Darkened tales
You bring the reader onto the stage of the forgotten
Well done One Shot
smiles and thanks from the Moon
Strong imagery here.. has an epic feel to it (though I suppose more of a ballad because of length). Think the use of italics make it more powerful also.
hey I'm entering OSW this time! Never have before... keep meaning to... wish me luck.. I'm going in
Warmest Salad
Luke @ WordSalad
what an atmosphere you create...and sniffed the lust that rode the air..shivers..
Are you sure you're not Welsh? You know I love this series, I was so excited when I logged on to twitter to see a new edition. I'm so sad!
I envy the way you can write rhyme so easily and make it flow. Excellent work Pete.
I really enjoyed your poem Pete, it brings to mind dark times gone by through the mythology I have read and stories told. A wonderful piece of work you have created.
Anita.
I love this and am looking forward to reading what came before, thanks :)
"Delores watched from high and far
as songs were sung and blood was splayed
the throats were cut in sacrifice
whilst bodies thrived upon the stage"
that part really sticks with you... wow
Interesting, scary, but at the same time captivating ... led me to the place, to the scene, feel the cold and painful sensation. I enjoyed it!
Soraya.
Interesante, intimidante, pero a su vez cautivante... me llevó al lugar, a la escena, a sentir la fría y dolorosa sensación. Lo disfruté!
Soraya.
Wow!!
I will have to read the rest of the series.... brilliant!
Fantastic! the language and imagery carry me to another time. Bravo! Will search out more :)
Very nice. effortless flow.
Pete dear,
reading you is a must
I loved:
*tonight they died in spite of death
amongst the graves of yesteryear*
WOW is not a word but I guess it expresses how I feel as I read this
D.
Even though it is off dark imagery the style and flow of the poem, feels me with light
Don't know your series, Pete, but if this is a sample, why are you not rich and famous??? I can hear the bard strumming in the background and the fire crackling as he recites to a hushed and slightly terrified crowd. Heady stuff, my friend.
Completely takes me back to another time and I love to travel.
oh, but this is marvelous....
i love this style...not many can manage the brilliant effect you've created here.
truly masterful...!!
Ooooh this makes me want to curl up with my tea as the wind howls outside my window. What terrific images!
I should really read the rest of this series.
Miranda<3
You definitely capture the feeling of that time.
Wow. Pete, I love this. You take us into the darkness with you. Stephanie Meyer better watch her back.
Absolutely wonderful! Truly a part of an epic story.
Absolutely wonderful! Truly a part of an epic story.
A splendid addition to the One Shot, and to the series, Pete! Strong sense of rhyme - it never once feels monotonous or forced. Good flow and imagery - very vivid, very atmospheric. I really got into this one - was really drawn into the scene. Thanks for sharing this one!
dang pete...you rocked the house with this one...shivers...very nicely done...
This would be my first time reading any bit of the series but I'm quite engaged now. I would love to read more. As others have pointed out the imagery is superb. Well done as always and thank you for sharing.
Dark indeed
I want to read more of this series - this is so beautifully dark and dare I say, poetic
This is great, Pete. Put me right in the stage of battle, ducking swords and wiping the blood.
I'm not familiar with your series, but this poem is wonderful! You are a master of rhyme, which ain't easy to do.
The imagery, words transported me to a very particular time in history....and my blood answered to the blood spilled!
That is resonance in writing!
Lady Nyo
Great great great...
Nice rhythm..beautiful flow of words...everything is awesome :)
I've read this a few times now. Quite enjoyable. Great write. Nice one shot. Love and Light, Sender
Enjoyable dark read...very imaginative.
Cheers!
Gotta love quatrains. No other style lends itself to epic storytelling quite as well, in my opinion. Great write, Pete!
Loved this. It is beatifully written and succeeds in creating a chilling mood.
Powerful. Haunting. Amazing use of words to paint pictures.
This is a word photo. Haunting, beautiful...
destined wanderings
Hauntingly beautiful. Your words just sing with gentle rhythm, and gorgeous rhyme. Definitely a word photo like guatami said.
Every time I come here and read your words I'm always so very impressed! Absolutely fantastic writing!!! Chilling, dark, haunting. Amazing as always!! ~April :)
I do declare that these leave me feeling like I want to pull my cloak more tightly around my shoulders and sit just a wee bit longer near the fire before stepping beyond the pub door and braving the cold and shadow filled streets to the safety of home.
Great job!
so heartfelt
Ah man, I love narrative poetry! Might have to give this a serious look through.
Yes, dessert and it's better than chocolate cake topped with ice cream..yum..I ate it up with a large spoon! Terrific as usual. Every time I come here I hate that we (meaning all of the poets who write here) can't just sit somewhere and drink and talk..but this is the next best thing. Thanks again for all your support. Gay
A dark and chilling tale told exquisitely with well chosen language, vivid imagery and rhyme. Enjoyed the read as always. Thank you for sharing, Pete.
Great use of narrative, line breaks, flow, language, all that: masterfully worked.
Excellent poem with rhyme and meter rarely found these days. Your poem thus aligns with the greats we must study to know what poetry is. Great relearning to read and recite your lines. I love the narrative, too! Thanks, Pete.
*A standing ovation for this one, Pete*
Chilling to the core, and very very grave and dark.. but terrible intense, and most magnetic! Had me hooked for word 1 !
What I really like about your poems (all of them - no exaggeration!) is that one can read them out like they were songs! The syllable count is perfect, and sets a rhythm to the show.. and I really really love it! Kudos, my friend.. you did it again!! (I bow before you on this .. truly!)
Wow. Reading your dark rhyme brought me shivers of pleasure. It also sets a standard against which rhyme like mine should be measured. :o)
Rhyme Me a Smile
Pete, I love the writing style and the revisitation of words almost lost. Your creation of the scenery
and vivid descriptions are so meticulous and as always you draw the reader into the poem.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Good to see the traditional forms being well worked. The poem powers along with a vengeance, very effectively served by its chanting rhythm.
No one (apart from Stephen Fry) sees metrical analysis as relevant any more, but I think there is still value and interest in some understanding of what's going on in the engine room. This poem is in trochaic tetrameter, an excellent meter for carrying the urgency of a tale, as happens here. It's quite a tricky form to do anything with over any length, but because the rhyme scheme is as disciplined as the metrical structure, it works well.
Sorry - that reads like a lecture. Not my intention!
You are a modern bard for sure-- eerie and strong.
This is riveting Pete. You write so beautifully and draw the reader right into the story.
Pete,
Just got onto your series. Loved it. Your rhyme is splendid. You made it look so easy
Wow! I'm completely sold on your style of story-telling. The first line grabbed me by the throat and I gasped for air by the end. Over and above the superb imagery and sense of place, is the unwavering structure of your poem. Skillful and artistic piece.
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