I dreamed of birds with wont to bite,
Of snakes that slithered in the night
Upon the path; my soul to sell
Yet could not speak the damnèd spell.

Your touch I felt like blooded ink,
The blessèd curse, it made me think
Of what, in truth, was to be gained
By mine own blood; forever chained

To blackest fire born of my shame,
Whose fiery tears fall like rain.
A soul once trapped can never die
I saw the truth behind the lie.

'Twas then I pushed away from you,
This waking nightmare I've come through,
Waking to my sorrow's wail,
"Some things," I raged, "are not for sale!"

Knots of anger,
Threads of rage,
Weakened by the
Guilt of age.

Long, dark night
Of black despair
Enwrappèd in a
Mortal snare.

Hath my gods
Deserted me,
Have they fled or
Turned on me?

Imprisoned here
Rage is blind
Whilst I am
Running out of time

Memories, fleeting,
Like fantasies
Amidst mortality's
Grand disease.

Twist of fate or
Hand of God
Spoiled mortal,
Spared the rod

Never learned of
Judgement dire
For unrepentent,
Sacrilege.

Hand of God or
Twist of fate
Don't matter a damn
Whilst we wait.

'Tis the mourning again,
The soul cries out,
No one to hear
As the role plays out.

No one to see dawn
No one to complain
That I'm alone, still,
Alone, with the pain.

I cannot forget,
Can never pretend,
Can never be like you,
Ever again.

I want to believe
I wish that I could,
Just to fit in!
Stand where I once stood!

But yesterday's gone,
A lifetime ago!
To haunt me, to make me
Mourn for it so!

But illusion is just
Reality framed,
Piqued and putrescent,
A predator tamed!

Bold as I was
Is meek as I am,
Mem'ries remain
So I'll do what I can.

If this is enough,
Then what's left to do?
With that hollow reminder
Of what I once knew!?

You, tell me.

Disillusionment, vain regret
And it’s not even over yet;
From starry eyes gleaming bright
To lonely cries that fill the night,
We have nary come to know
The in-between times measured slow.

So, what is it we’ve learned today?
But how a love doth fade away,
Taking all the dreams unborn
Uncounted sorrows yet to mourn
Of love whose passing leaves the scar;
A shadow that is who we are.

I wanted to believe it all,
To know that I could safely fall
And be caught in your loving arms,
Enamored by your many charms
Then be reminded, tempting dreams,
Nothing is ever what it seems.

I find that nothing brings to life
Determination to meet the strife,
My will to live, my will to fight
To colorize the black and white
Then anger that is justified,
Blood red to make it sanctified.

‘Tis anger that doth make me whole
And you, its target, dying slow
As this heart that bleeds today,
The new blood washing you away
With just one thought redeeming, true;
The very power I have given you.

As life will flow with blood soon past
And dreams forsaken die at last
I’ll not try and make you see
What my faith helped you do to me
Rather, try to comprehend
What cruel jokes gods can play on man.

All Hallow’s Eve
by J.Artemis 10/97

The howling winds surround the glade
Preparing for a night’s parade
Of gouls and goblins, demonspawn
Most fearsome creatures ever made.

Born of fear in darkness deep
They search the night for those who sleep
And in the silence of the night
A scream awakes me from my sleep.

A victim found, a feast in blood,
Where demonspawn and victim stood
Together in that last embrace
Now bound forever by his blood.

So, ‘pon this night of halloween
Sleep not witless in a dream;
Wakeful, watchful, shall you be
Where all the dangers can be seen........
And, perhaps even avoided...........

Good luck :)