For what appeared to
be an eternity, the summer
storm illuminated the subdued
light of Wadsworth Manor,
an 18th century Victorian,
in a kaleidoscope of echoes.
Encroaching twilight encircled
Selene Wadsworth; her gaze
fastened on a mass of shadowed
profiles; ascending the remnants
of a wrought-iron spiral
staircase like wavering cobras.
With the ferocity of a pack of
wolves in the midst of their
midnight hunt, her lungs ignited
at the mere sight of the vaulted
ceilings, appearing to morph
into a symphony of living caskets.
Engulfing her in a well of opacity,
almost to the brink of asphyxiation,
a battalion of whispers trailed a path
along the nape of her neck, deep
within the small of her spine. She
could feel her pupils dilate with
lightning speed, despite being enshrouded
by pitch-black. What little remained
of her resolve, dissipated from the very
moment she set foot in the famed brothel.
Paralyzed to the bone by the pandemonium
that crept its way in like molten lava.
The estate’s many chandeliers rained crystal
flame; the periphery of her mind—ablaze in scarlet.
Submerged in a liquid vapor, she met
a pair of indigo irises, fixated on her every
move, from a distant corner of the grand ballroom.
Instantaneously, the shrill of her screams
shattered the marble floors, forcing her
to collapse in the mirror of truth; while
a uniformed man in colononial dress sat
down beside her to play Beethoven's
"Ode to Joy" on what scarcely remained
of a once-grand piano. Breathless, she flung
herself into oblivion from her sixth floor
window. It was only then that she came
to the realization that she, too, had
been dead for centuries passed, lost in the
illusion of her own reality. How little she
perceived those fleeting moments in
her last hours. The clarity of mind she
so desperately sought, not just in life,
but in death, simply vanished at first light.
Author notes
I entered this into an anonymous contest, so please don't use my user name if you are kind enough to comment. Thank you. 
http://rim23shot.deviantart.com/art/The-Spirit-Of-Seduction-4926653
Wadsworth Manor is the fictional location for a short story I'm still writing. This poem is condensed quite a bit when compared to the story that is playing out so far, so I'm looking forward to fininshing it. I love the ghostly image the artist created here. Selene Wadsworth came to a point in her life where she grew disillusioned with the path that she'd been forced into. Ultimately, she took her life in the house while still in her late twenties, and she has lingered in confusion somewhere in between dimensions for the past two hundred years, reliving the latter years of her young life. As an earthbound ghost, she has been completely unaware that she died, adding to her growing sense of fear and confusion. The uniformed man at the piano plays a much larger role in the story as the sinister antagonist from hell. That's just putting it mildly. I hope that you at least get some sense of the twisted nature inherent in his character, especially considering his choice of composition on the piano, which serves to amplify his hunger to drive all those young women around him to the brink of madness. In fact, it was his ghost that ultimately led to Selene's departure from all sense of reality. Not only did he strive to do all he could to bring Lady Selene far beyond the threshold of sanity throughout the last few years of her life, but he continues to do it in death.
- Ghost Whispers group list • next in list
A contest entry
- ~HOLLOWS EVE and ALL SAINTS CONTESTS~GHOULS-GHOSTS-WITCHES AND GOBLINS COME JOIN VAMPS AND ANGELS WELCOME TOO!!! by Shantti.
775 points, ended November 1, 2009, 19 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - All I want for Christmas... by PastelMoons.
1300 points, ended January 9, 48 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please feel free to offer constructive comments, as I welcome those.
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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I love this, it's hauntingly beautiful,
intriguing and unforgetable!
thank you for sharing
and best wishes in my contest!
~Pastel -
lol, and I certainly wouldn't classify the pic of the girl a naked hottie, hottie, she looks like a ghost, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, I suppose!
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Excellent write, lol, maybe your words were a little to big for the green guy so thats why he couldnt appreciate it , he probably just got tired running to the dictionary! It's rude people like that who should keep their comments to themselves, especially when you take a look at their writing, so you know, take it for where its coming from! You did a great job and everyone else loved it too, so apparently you did something right!
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Nope
Poor trick using the image of a naked hottie, far too empowering.
So then you got into the false separation of your work, throwing out all grammar while writing about Victorian times, which always observed excellent style. That didn't fit for me, to the point that I can't appreciate your art.
Look, I've got enough friends, so I'm not here for more. Everyone else can LOVE you, how nice, but I'll tell it to you straight: this style of yours is weird and unconventional, and it just doesn't work for everyone (and I'm not willing to overlook it for the sake of your sweet word selection). Should you show me something with a decent presentation, I'll appreciate that more. -
Bravo!!
Bravo!!
Bravo!!!
Amazing write
I was completely enthralled!
thanks so much for sharing
and congrats on the shiny!!!
Pastel
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This is amazing! I love the story you told here and how you told it. The imagery is awesome, I actually could visualize the castle as you were describing the scene. It's like watch a scene in a movie.
Very well done! I enjoyed this a whole lot. Thank you for entering my contest
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Really cool! I like the twist at the end "dead for centuries passed" A most enjoyable read.
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Love it...
A great narrative with wonderful imagery & storytelling with delightfully dark undertone that enthrals throughout...
Impressive as always...
Keep up the good work...
Well done!!!
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good job (keeping it short because of computer problems)!
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Wow, bro, chilling, mysterious, sure did out do yourself this time. Excellent. Blessings.
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