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Saturday 12 November 2011

The Gathering by pete marshall



The Gathering
by pete marshall

As mice ran forth across the floor
from open boards, through rotting doors
where damp would crawl and spread upon
beyond the course the plaster blown
and sweats that chill the very skin
would soak the sheets of darkened dreams
hope would see the morning in
yet droppings lay by ravaged bins
amongst the crumbs of sweetened things
& faeces shared from deep within
upon the floor, across the beams
for hours count the gathering

Outside the mist a swirling screen
that creeps along and slips between
the leaves that fall from autumn trees
the taste of salt from off the sea
and sweats that chill the very skin
would soak the sheets of darkened dreams
hope would see the morning in
from out their nests they rode the wind
the rooks would kaah whilst circling
then swoop upon the menacing
across the paths and dew soaked green
for hours count the gathering

Within a damp and blackened cask
a heart would beat behind a mask
where eyes are wide & pained with fright
beneath the earth this fearful night
and sweats that chill the very skin
would soak the sheets of darkened dreams
hope would see the morning in
upon the boards you scratch & scream
your nails are spent and blistering
the blood is rushing from within
cries are echoes for your sins
for hours count the gathering

***************

A new Darkened Tale

image courtesy creative commons flikr http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuelamador/

9 comments:

Hope said...

amazing piece Pete! you never cease to amaze me with your talent! so love your work! again, your style speaks the best form for me to feel your story and to take me away with it. Thank you!

hope all is well
take care!

Brian Miller said...

a week where i get two pete marshall poems...unbelievable...and a delight...smiles....love the way you use language to make us feel the tension...the rat turds among the good things too is a nice early touch that could play metaphor as well...

Desert Rose said...

incredibly amazing! how i missed reading you pete..:) mannn its mere pleasure,your words flow with power and yalent..SUPERB read :)

Unknown said...

this is an amazing and visceral piece!
the imagery speaks loud & clear... superb details.

glad to see ya back Sir Pete. :)

Glynn said...

Dark it may be, but I'm glad to read one of these Darkened Tales again. It's been a while - too long.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Your story-line is mesmerizing, and your classic form of narrative poetry is faultless. I thoroughly enjoyed your tale. It's been too long since I visited your space, Pete. Hope you are keeping well.

Anonymous said...

So happy to see you back my man! Amazing piece, and great story told.Loving the evolution of the darkened tales Pete xx

Christine Ramsay said...

Wow, Pete! What an amazing piece. You have captured the mood vividly. It is good to see you writing again. I hope life is treating you a little better these days.

libithina said...

'where eyes are wide & pained with fright'
'beneath the earth this fearful night
and sweats that chill the very skin
would soak the sheets of darkened dreams' ~ really draws you in to this ~ think I've been there ~ woah ~ powerful stuff Pete ~ as usual your style adds neatly to the effect and read ~ so good to see you back ~ now just need to see Adam @Dustus x x Lib