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Tuesday 7 December 2010

The Return of the One: A Poem From the Darkened Tales Series


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:

Anonymous said...

this is one that needs to be read over and over...well done.

cheers

Glynn said...

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.

Maureen said...

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.

moondustwriter said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Claudia said...

what an atmosphere you create...and sniffed the lust that rode the air..shivers..

Anonymous said...

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.

Anita Magdalena said...

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.

Diana Lee said...

I love this and am looking forward to reading what came before, thanks :)

Unknown said...

"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

Soraya said...

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.

Louise said...

Wow!!
I will have to read the rest of the series.... brilliant!

Tashtoo said...

Fantastic! the language and imagery carry me to another time. Bravo! Will search out more :)

Anonymous said...

Very nice. effortless flow.

Dulçe ♥ said...

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.

Kodjo Deynoo said...

Even though it is off dark imagery the style and flow of the poem, feels me with light

hedgewitch said...

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.

Monkey Man said...

Completely takes me back to another time and I love to travel.

mel said...

oh, but this is marvelous....

i love this style...not many can manage the brilliant effect you've created here.

truly masterful...!!

Miranda said...

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

Anonymous said...

You definitely capture the feeling of that time.

PattiKen said...

Wow. Pete, I love this. You take us into the darkness with you. Stephanie Meyer better watch her back.

Teresa said...

Absolutely wonderful! Truly a part of an epic story.

Teresa said...

Absolutely wonderful! Truly a part of an epic story.

Chris G. said...

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!

Brian Miller said...

dang pete...you rocked the house with this one...shivers...very nicely done...

Corbie said...

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.

budh.aaah said...

Dark indeed

Anonymous said...

I want to read more of this series - this is so beautifully dark and dare I say, poetic

Brock S. Henning said...

This is great, Pete. Put me right in the stage of battle, ducking swords and wiping the blood.

Asobime said...

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

eyeography said...

Great great great...
Nice rhythm..beautiful flow of words...everything is awesome :)

Anonymous said...

I've read this a few times now. Quite enjoyable. Great write. Nice one shot. Love and Light, Sender

Emmanuel Ibok said...

Enjoyable dark read...very imaginative.

Cheers!

Bubba said...

Gotta love quatrains. No other style lends itself to epic storytelling quite as well, in my opinion. Great write, Pete!

Myrna R. said...

Loved this. It is beatifully written and succeeds in creating a chilling mood.

Thoughts Not Lost said...

Powerful. Haunting. Amazing use of words to paint pictures.

gautami tripathy said...

This is a word photo. Haunting, beautiful...

destined wanderings

Tina said...

Hauntingly beautiful. Your words just sing with gentle rhythm, and gorgeous rhyme. Definitely a word photo like guatami said.

Anonymous 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 :)

The Exception said...

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!

DeLi said...

so heartfelt

Adam Common, Poet said...

Ah man, I love narrative poetry! Might have to give this a serious look through.

Beachanny said...

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

Helena Malheur said...

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.

Steve Isaak said...

Great use of narrative, line breaks, flow, language, all that: masterfully worked.

Alegria Imperial said...

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.

Kavita said...

*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!)

Rachel Hoyt said...

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

Anonymous said...

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.

Dick Jones said...

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!

Anonymous said...

You are a modern bard for sure-- eerie and strong.

Linda said...

This is riveting Pete. You write so beautifully and draw the reader right into the story.

kaykuala said...

Pete,
Just got onto your series. Loved it. Your rhyme is splendid. You made it look so easy

Kerry O'Connor said...

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.