Three-clawed rabid black
fanged in an incessant drone,
a throbbing rhythm pierced
with a penetrating shriek.
It reaches and snags, tearing
limbs in breathless moments,
severing all sound, all thought
all hope from voiceless mouths.
Prayers fade down elusive halls,
fluorescent jungles with antiseptic vines,
sterile trees and disinfected paths
where mere ache is relief and fire
but a waning reprieve in the agony.
The winged gargoyle casts its gaze
and shrivels the healthy flesh
as veins collapse to the needles
and the only salvation burns
as you plead – “Dilute it with flush,”
anything for the moment of relief
the liquid searing into the skin,
swirling in weakened passages,
drawing each breath from the lung
until the very air is a memory
so easily forgotten as life hangs
on the electric ventilator’s wheeze,
life, breath, hope is forced again,
again and once more again
into the collapsing throat as a moan
is all that can possibly remain.
A contest entry
- Off the Wall! by z etoile.
300 points, ended June 26, 2008, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Fire and Ice by Hata mig.
455 points, ended July 27, 2008, 21 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Here Be Nightmares by Xmas16.
440 points, ended July 9, 2008, 9 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
-
Wow... You just blew me away with words and imagery. A very good write... Scary good.
-
Stark and cruel. Sounds like an ICU ward to me, where gray faced people are hanging on to life by slender threads.
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Holy cow. Each image spun through my head in a violent frenzy with every word I read. I found myself unknowingly holding my breath halfway through. Needless to say, I love it. Great work and good luck in the contest!
God bless,
~Praise~ -
This had a lot of intense emotion.
The winged gargoyle casts its gaze
and shrivels the healthy flesh
as veins collapse to the needles
I enjoyed these lines thank you for entering the contest and thank you for sharing.
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