hypnotic rhythms in her eyes
foretell the rushing of the tides
at dusk on the darkened coast
where the pretty little girls
sing around a golden fire
laughing at their insolence
out without their chaperones
she touches one slick finger to
the chain about her throat,
a silver ladder shining in the sharpness
of the twilight sun that rests
on the far horizon, across the barren
shore where no one save for
no one dares to wade;
the water is deep, they say,
and underneath are silken things
cold things, dead things, grasping hands
and grinding teeth still razor-sharp
even after centuries have passed
she rattles the chain and it chimes
like crystal glasses smashed into the floor
how many should she sample? she is
not hungry, hasn't been for ages
but the prospect of gushing crystal
eyes and ripe red marrow fills her mind
as she settles on a satisfying end:
why not have them all, she say aloud,
as soft and silken as a drowned man's hair
the wind is swift, they say,
out on that cursed bay where no one
goes, at least not anymore; too many
memories, too many sweet young girls
have gone away into those waters
never to return, on their way instead up
silver ladders
or out with the rushing of the tides
at dusk on the darkened coast
Author notes
I'm working on a story right now, vaguely untitled at the moment. I've been getting more interested in truly unique interpretations of vampirism, and wanted to try my hand at a distinct horror mythology that has room to expand and fit other such creatures (your basic werewolves, zombies, etc.)
In this mythology, the Silver Ladder is a metaphor for the descent into decadence and debauchery that vampires experience beginning in the first few decades after they become immortal, and continues until they have completely lost their humanity.
A contest entry
- It’s a CREEPY Dark Rounds Contest by Paloszoo by Paloszoo.
1200 points, ended July 11, 42 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Whaddya think?
Comments
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I'm impressed. Nice dark write. I like it a lot. You've done well here. Thanks for entering my rounds contest and for showing your work here. It's a pleasure reading it!
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Sorry about not entering the second round! I hadn't been on AllPo in a long time, and then by the time I got on it was ten minutes until the contest deadline : (
Good luck with the rest of the contest, and may your other entrants not be half as flaky as I am!
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