A sudden flapping sound caused a chill up my spine;
Pages slowly turned by fingers of the wind,
apparition like, as the rain kept time
with the ticking clock. I sat back, chagrined.
The tome was not familiar as it lay on the desk.
A touch of curiosity led me to take a look.
Filled with arcane symbols, illustrations were grotesque,
it was apparent this was more than a book.
Pulling on my glasses, I peered into its heart.
The ancient text was gibberish, well beyond me.
Yet, somehow, its contents began to impart
its dark secrets in my mind directly.
I saw visions of torture, the blood used ritually,
twisting the normal for nefarious ends.
I felt in my soul these were used habitually
to call upon darkness, over goodness transcend.
The power it showed me was almost narcotic
sweeping me up in the possibilities.
The images, gruesome, were also hypnotic
with promises of unique capabilities.
The wind grew fitful and the window slammed
breaking the spell and my reverie.
Had I continued perhaps I’d be damned
but when I looked back there was nothing to see.
Had it been a dream? An apparition?
The table was bare and nothing remained.
I now see it as an admonition –
Don’t turn to the darkness or you will be stained.
Author notes
Prompt: Picture
Picture Credit: “Old Book Contest” ~ Artist Unknown
No limit
monograph - a highly detailed and thoroughly documented study or paper written about a limited area of a subject or field of inquiry
nefarious - extremely wicked or villainous
A contest entry
- Inviting my Favorites by Reptile Lady by Reptile Lady.
875 points, ended December 10, 2008, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Critical Comments Always Welcome
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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Thank you Ken
A darker write for you and I am so pleased as this image was open to so much.
You penned it perfectly
Best wishes to you
Julie
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a wonderful poem i lovethe imagery and emotions and the last stanza I thought was brilliant good luck inthe contest
maralisa
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this is poem got my attention. though the reason behind that are many. a place that's dark like that has an attraction of it's own, one that isn't pretty by any means, one that can lure anyone into its little web.. warnings should be listened to.. some don't listen others prefer to look past them. all of which are bad things to do. darkness is contagious, not in a good way either. I was there for many years.. not anymore but the memories still linger, another sort of warning.. one wrong move I could fall right back.. ok so I'm rambling again. I do that now and then.. lol
some books are never meant to be read.. just placed upon a shelf & forgotten about..
the imagery through out this poem is fantastic & quite vivid. very dark at that.
good luck
kat
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woo!
<---SO addicting
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*smacks hands* no more emoticon's for you young lady... drink your Starbucks and get back to studying
Go! Shoo! 
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