Inside the Worm Read online

Inside the Worm

  By Bonnie Mutchler

  Copyright 2010 by Bonnie Mutchler

  Cover design copyright Joleene Naylor 2009. All rights reserved.

  Cover Fonts by Larabie Fonts (https://www.larabiefonts.com/ )

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  Blood

  "Sweet passion, wash away the blood,

  But not your hands of me.

  Whatever deed the dagger's done

  Must now be buried deep,

  And in the silence of the dark

  The secret we shall keep."

  But guilt can't slumber easily,

  Nor ever rest in peace;

  His sinful heart read meanings sly

  In every word she'd speak,

  He saw betrayal in each glance,

  Each gesture was unique,

  As though some mocking stranger'd come

  To dwell there in her place.

  And what once burned as fiery love

  Turned now to icy hate.

  Then late one night, her breathing quiet,

  In innocence she slept,

  He drew the dagger from his side

  And plunged it to its depths.

  The moment o'er, he looked in horror

  At what his guilt had wrought,

  His own true love dead by his hand,

  Drenched in her own red blood.

  ************************************************************************

  Dalya

  Dalya's in the garden

  And the sun is staying late,

  Hanging in the evening sky,

  Lighting up the gate.

  Shining on the stone path,

  Reflecting off the flowers,

  Casting rip'ling shadows

  Across the towers.

  Waiting for her lover,

  Wondering why he's late.

  What is it about this night

  That makes her breath bate?

  There is something in the air,

  Lurking somewhere out of sight.

  There's a shiver in the shade,

  Something isn't right.

  Dalya's in the garden,

  Golden hair spread in the mud,

  Lying on the cold stone path

  In a pool of blood.

  **********************************************************************

  Did I Hear You Call

  Did I hear you call upon the night wind

  As it ripped across the angry, tattered cliffs?

  And did I hear my name, once softly spoken,

  Now shrieked insanely from your frozen lips?

  Did you stare at me with eyes like flaming coals,

  Red eyes as fierce and fiery as the pit,

  That stripped away the flesh and burned the soul

  As though it were mounted on a spit?

  And slowly did you turn it in your pleasure,

  For with each turn the wound gaped even larger.

  Was your laughter raw and coarse, harshly grating,

  As my limp form lay upon your bloody charger?

  Was it all you hoped revenge could ever be?

  Did my weakness feed your never-ending greed,

  Your lust for power, your insecurity?

  Did my consumption finally set you free?

  ***********************************************************************

  Ember

  Her hair shone like a halo in the crowd;

  He slowed his rapid pace and sought her out.

  But darkened eyes revealed her frozen heart;

  He turned away intending to depart.

  Cold, bony fingers clutched him in a grip

  Like steel and forced him tight against her lips

  Of ice and snow, pale winter's kiss,

  And held him firm 'tween agony and bliss.

  His senses reeled and there was nothing left,

  Just emptiness, a hollow soul bereft

  Of every shred of hope or happiness,

  Of every dream that mortal dare possess.

  And he was lost, no chance of a return,

  No future save that of a heart that burns

  With the ice of its own deadly passion

  To the stony silence of annihilation.

  ***********************************************************************

  Fair Michael, Where Are You Going Today?

  "Fair Michael, where are you going today?"

  "Away, away, away."

  "Fair Michael, where are you going today?"

  "A wild beast to slay."

  His silver sword was long and sharp;

  His steely eyes were cold and dark;

  His youthful heart was set and hard

  As he turned his head away.

  "My young son, where are you going today?"

  "A-hunting I did say!"

  "My young son, where are you going today?"

  "To Dannig Forest Glade.

  "Tis well you know the hate I keep,

  The passion one must bury deep,

  Though still it robs me of my sleep

  When I look upon her face."

  "I beg you, son, do not go today."

  "Let go my arm, I pray."

  "I beg you, son, do not go today."

  "Tis time that he should pay.

  Like the brute he is, let him die

  In blood, the knowledge in his eye,

  That the fatal thrust of sword was mine

  To revenge my love this day."

  ***********************************************************************

  Harry, Harry Humbolt

  Harry, Harry Humbolt,

  With your eyes of green,

  Is your heart so dark and cold?

  Is your soul so mean?

  Harry, Harry Humbolt,

  Haven't got a care.

  Though you are a wicked man,

  Still your face is fair.

  Harry, Harry Humbolt,

  Evil as can be,

  You never held a candle,

  Not to bad old me.

  ***********************************************************************

  I am the Warrior

  "I am the warrior," said the maid.

  "The one for whom ye all have prayed.

  Sent from the godshead locked in Gillam,

  Far beyond the stars of Siram,

  And there's none who stood against me

  Who ever knew a victory."

  So they led her to Gamorkuh

  By the shores of Tanzuhnora,

  There to battle, on the white sand,

  The great wizard of the northland.

  He swooped down on his eagle,

  Head uplifted, looking regal,

  With the scepter of the star band

  Held firmly in his withered hand.

  His shrill laughter was all knowing,

  His orange beard and mustache flowing,

  His pale eyes, oblique and misty,

  Held a million mysteries.

  But he knew what he was doing,

  While the people all were ruing

  Putting faith upon the maiden,

  Their doubting hearts heavy laden,

  He drew forth his mighty war mace,

  A look of scorn upon his face.

  But the maiden raised her hammer

  As they met with clash of thunder,

  And the earth was all a-tremble

  At the fierceness of the battle.

  Though the wizard stood, unyielding,

  Still the hammer she was wielding,

  Carved from the blessed stone of Kive,

  Seemed at her touch to come alive.

  Death was in the cards of Omen. r />
  Death, the keeper of the dungeon

  And it's jaws were dark and gaping.

  Fell the wizard, as though sleeping,

  In Death's arms, so all enfolding,

  But the maiden still was holding

  Her mighty hammer and shield;

  Alone stood she upon the field.

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  In the Dark and the Dead of the Place

  In the dark and the dead of the place

  A gnarled hand draws back the lace

  And from the gloom a withered face

  Scans the leaves of time.

  There humanity is just a blur,

  Like dead leaves dancing in a whir,

  Without a backward glance at her

  Dark eyes beneath the grime.

  For though her youth was frail and brief,

  She nursed the world through all its grief,

  Through thirst and famine, disbelief,

  Through hatred and war.

  Now she stands forgotten in her age

  And stifles her indignant rage,

  As mankind turns from good to waste

  All she's suffered for.

  It takes so long to remember now

  The pure mountain stream, the tender bough,

  The days long gone when mankind vowed

  To take over for her.

  She trusted him, though it proved unwise

  And it all crashed down before her eyes.

  With relish man sought her demise,

  "Death to Mother Nature!"

  ***********************************************************************

  Inside The Worm

  "Illusions, dreams,

  And all that seems

  Above reality

  Are yours if you go

  To the land of snow

  Beyond the outmost sea,

  For there you'll see,

  Lying on the beach,

  The Worm of Palendee,

  Black with the grime

  Of ancient times,

  Looking o'er the storm tossed sea.

  There inside

  It's leathery hide

  Lies celestial paradise;

  One sees a world

  Like God never hurled

  Through the worm's unblinking eyes."

  The tale's been told

  Since days of old,

  In bars where sailors dwell.

  'Til one young tar

  Listened to the yarn

  And was captured by its spell.

  He sailed away

  On a sunny day,

  Far from familiar shores,

  To seas beyond

  The edge of dawn

  And north through the arctic doors.

  The pale sun shone

  On winter's bones,

  Bleak and stark against the skies;

  The dark seas rolled,

  And the wind was cold

  Blowing off the peaks of ice.

  For forty days

  They sailed that way,

  With the riggings frozen white.

  The bowsprit cracked,

  The sails all snapped,

  And the deck was a sheet of ice.

  December came,

  With freezing rain,

  When the island came in sight.

  As smooth as cream

  With a worm of green

  Stretching out from side to side.

  They docked next day

  In the icy bay

  And the young man went ashore.

  The wind blew wild

  Like a screaming child

  And the ocean frothed and roared.

  The sailors cursed

  As the storm grew worse

  So they headed out to sea;

  They left him alone

  In that land of snow

  With the worm upon the beach.

  He stood a while,

  The wind grew mild

  And the sun began to show.

  His eyes just stared

  At the blinding glare

  Coming off the pure white snow.

  Then he felt a grip

  From the darkest pit,

  But the terror held him firm,

  For there was no doubt

  He was looking out

  From the inside of the worm.

  Varied colors swirled

  In a maddening whirl

  While demons laughed and pranced,

  And every fear

  That he held dear

  Joined in that dreadful dance.

  With fangs and claws,

  Their long, thin jaws

  Oozed spittle mixed with blood,

  While eyes like coals

  Burned through his soul;

  Sweat drenched him like a flood.

  Then darkness fell,

  With the breath of hell

  Blowing hot against his face,

  And every terror

  That raised a hair

  Pressed on him in that space.

  As feelings rose

  His muscles froze;

  His parched eyes strained and stung.

  The acrid stench

  Made his nostrils flinch

  As it seared into his lungs.

  The fire spit

  From a yawning pit

  That opened at his feet.

  The light was dim

  'Round the crumbling rim

  As it melted in the heat.

  His footing gone,

  He pitched headlong

  Into that flaming abyss.

  He heard his scream,

  Like an ancient dream,

  Through the fire's impatient hiss.

  He closed his eyes;

  The lids stuck tight;

  His lashes singed and curled.

  The smell of flesh

  Was raw and fresh

  As through the blaze he hurled.

  His sense's cracked;

  His mind went black,

  And he knew all hope was vain,

  For there was no end

  And no defense

  "Ginst the visions of his brain.

  In monster form

  His thoughts were born,

  Wearing robes of flowing lights

  With open palms

  They offered alms

  As they faded in the night.

  Next, in their place,

  Came a pallid face

  With wild, haunting eyes

  And in their depths

  He saw the best

  Of the world he'd left behind.

  A stabbing pain

  Shot through his brain;

  It split him right in half.

  He could see his heart

  As it burst apart,

  Flying by like useless chaff.

  There was nothing more

  But a senseless roar

  As he rode on numbing waves

  That swept along,

  With a mocking song,

  To the horror of his grave.

  The light was pale

  In this endless hell,

  For there was no paradise,

  Just death and fear

  In that region drear

  Behind the Great worm's eyes.

  The tale's been told

  Since days of old

  Of the Worm of Palandee,

  Black with the grime

  Of ancient times,

  Looking o'er the storm tossed sea.

  ***********************************************************************

  Just A Part Of War

  Listen to the pretty maid,

  Listen to her story.

  Remember her pretty face?

  Now it's torn and gory.

  See the soldiers march away,

  The young one is so sorry.

  It's just a part of war, they say,

  Mustn't let it worry.

&nb
sp; ***********************************************************************

  Keep It Light

  Keep it light, that's right, that's right.

  Keep it light, my lady.

  Hasn't been a single night

  You haven't drove me crazy.

  If your hair weren't red and gold,

  If you weren't so lazy

  I'd have had you for a wife

  Before the month of May-zy.

  ***********************************************************************

  Lament From The Pit

  O' Lord, the devil is deep in me;

  The evil is strong and I am weak.

  Look into the darkness, what do I see?

  Only the blackness that presses on me.

  Where is the power that lies beyond?

  I reach through the void, but it is gone.

  There's nothing to cling to, nothing to hold,

  Only the emptiness, icy and cold.

  Was there a moment it might have changed?

  Was there a hope I did not disdain?

  Is there no pity for wretches like me,

  Chained in this pit for eternity?

  ***********************************************************************

  Lindy's Lover

  Lindy's at the window,

  And her candle's burning bright,

  Waiting for her lover

  On a cold and windy night.

  List'ning for the hoof beats

  Pounding on the road below,

  Face flushed with excitement

  In the fire's golden glow

  Is it close to midnight?

  For he promised he'd be there

  Though the watch at Fallow

  Be a-spying everywhere.

  Still, he's very clever

  And his horse is fast and light.

  Though they gamely chase him,

  He'll escape again tonight.

  He may be a robber

  And a scoundrel, I declare,

  Still he's very dashing

  And his looks are more than fair.

  Lindy's at the window

  And her candle's burning low,

  List'ning for her lover

  Riding on the road below.

  Can she hear his hoof beats?

  They're a-ham'ring like her heart,

  Somewhere in the distance,

  Ringing loudly in the dark.

  Leaping from the saddle

  As she opens wide the door.

  Snuffing out the candle

  They're just shadows on the floor.

  ***********************************************************************

  Man of Might

  Man of might,

  With muscles bulging,

  Dare I look into your eye?

  Passion burning,