In the dark, the oil lantern illumined path
down the spiral stairs of stone,
creeping further into the darken earth.
The smell of organic soil, mold and dust
linger in the air, as I listen
further ahead I could hear, drip-drip-drip.
I cleared the cobwebs from my path,
their feathery, dust like gowns
hung long abandoned from this passage.
Still I heard the dripping sounds of water
and as I drew near I saw a glow
flickering and cascading on the stone walls.
As I rounded the corner I found myself
within a chamber alighted
by a small campfire, and a sitting figure.
he was an old man, with long greying hair
wrinkled flesh and deep-set blue eyes,
he was seated on a bench poking the fire.
Dressed in a greying linen tunic
perhaps Roman or Greek origins,
"I've been waiting for you" he said.
I then noticed the wall behind him
a wall of solid ice, from end to end.
A dark creature there within.
"I am a watcher," he had said, "I am getting old"
"when I leave this chamber, the ice
will freeze, freeze and wreath the world in ice."
"You are here to replace me," he had said.
"I am but a mortal, I will someday die," I had said.
"what is it that I can do?"
his eyes grew heavy, as he faded into vapors
in my mind I heard his anguish,
"The demon will soon be released from its bondage
the world will end in winter white."
Author notes
prompt: earth, water, air and fire
A storyline in free verse.
A contest entry
- Four years of illumination by Sandi Alford.
1250 points, ended March 10, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Let me know How this makes you feel, what do you think?
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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This was quite a riviting tale. Your images are great, drawing the reader along with you, especially "I cleared the cobwebs from my path, their feathery, dust like gowns
hung long abandoned..." these gentle wisps are a strong contrast to the liquid drips heard further down the tunnel. and no pun intended, but that's a mighty chilling thought of another iceage at your clever closure, burrrrrrr
Very well done! Thank you for joining me on my path of illumination, best wishes! 
many blessings, Sandi
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Well,that title fits the bill nicely. And this is a fantastic tale woven here.
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Wow, this was awesome ... Outstanding imagery ... Frightening thought to behold.
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This is great! I love the dark genre and you pen it so well. This poem although written in free verse has a wonderful cadence to it and I think that adds to the mystery of darkness.
Love,
Amera♥
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Thank you so very much.
I am glad you liked it
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