Desert Storm

 You used to flog me daily and reeducate me only because your ancestors had stolen authority over the broken bodies of mine, in your days of abundance when I was slender. 

 

Today, I have become as an over-flowing fountain in the desert, and a cool breeze that blows everywhere and refreshes all that it touches. 

 

But by night I become a stony well in a twisted forest, and the air grows cold and still.  The birds become ravenous vultures, waiting for your death, and all that can be seen is the New Moon. 

 

I’m saddened that I can’t wither the forest with my glance, and burn it to cinders, or knock-over mountains with my closed-fist, for then I could give you what you want. 

 

A thousand dreams have flown from your hand into mine, and a dream is but an echo of the world that was. 

 

For the Son of Man saves whom He chooses, then rests and it is enough to be the same as your Master.

Copyright 2022 Jeffrey Merk

The Rats of the Sewer-system

There is the entrance, where the grate breaks-in 

Through it Moon discloses herself at last; 

You must make your way down the drain forgot, 

Gnawing but soggy crackers for breakfast. 

 

I ought to take him in hand, Bullybrat, 

Ragwort, Dimwit and Looz, let me see. 

Though this garbage came from our stomachs, 

There’s plenty for them and none for thee. 

 

Here I stand a moment looking outward, 

This barbed-wire fence wasn’t here before. 

To turn off at the valve and wander down, 

Those carrot-ends will be mine I swore. 

 

Copyright 2022 Jeffrey Merk 

Affection Scorned

She was my heavenly ray of ghost-like light
Illuminating my reflection through the night
Yet our child, Misunderstanding ripped to parts
The dawning dancing of our once constant hearts
Now I alone, shrouded by November lawns
Of drifts of snow, pure and cold like midnight swans
The mover of the autumn leaves is but cold
The coffee shops are no more quaint, but old
She blasted me with wild winters rage too soon
Making deaf the dancer, mute the stirring tune
The gods rejoice, my destiny is shuttered
In labyrinths where her soul never fluttered
     Let ravens gorge her flesh, pick her bones apart
     In that cold graveyard, her solitary heart.

Mermaid

I hear the music of your soul
My distant mermaid on your shoal
Singing sweet in solitude
Siren sounding your prelude
  I call to you across the sky
  To evoke your endless sigh!

Like a sailor in the night
Seeking beckons of the light
I pass into regions of you
Tossed where windy weather blew
  Open wide your velvet door
  Let me shipwreck on your shore!

Three Witches

Synopsis

In an ancient Irish forest, three witches live in an hoary cottage, guarding an underground temple to their evil god Pan.  Occasionally, they abduct residents of the nearby town of Dunsmir, to offer their victims soul in exchange for forbidden knowledge.  This is accomplished through the use of a dream-drug, which allows them to contact their sleeping victim, and cause him/her to sleep-walk into the forest, where they are captured and taken to the cottage.
  The scenario begins with an investigator beginning to experience terrible nightmares involving a horrible witch appearing in their dreams.  Over the course of three months, these nightmares increase in intensity, until, one night, the victim awakens to find that the horrible witch is actually in their bedroom, leaning over them.  She takes them by the hand, and slowly leads them down the stairs, through the deserted streets, and into the forest.
  When they reach the cottage, the three witches lead them, through a trap-door in the floor, down 555 glowing red steps, into the Temple of Pan, where he is sacrificed to the dreadful deity.  All this, unless the investigators can stop it.

Dream One

From the midst of ordinary but unsettling dreams, the investigator feels the intrusion of a probing foreign consciousness, which calls their name from a distance, beckoning them with the promise of forbidden knowledge.
  Suddenly, the dreamer finds himself by a stonework gate on the edge of a forest at night, looking into the face of the hideous witch, while squawking crows circle around.  The witch takes the dreamer by the hand, and, when they enter through the gate, the dreamer awakes, terrified.  He is aware that the dream really happened.

The Wilted Rose

In shadow of the rose I stand
Where garden turns to drifting sand
And sunlight on the flowered vale
Leaves the blossom soon and pale

The wedding bloom whose petals wrecked
By your own hand in white gown decked
Behold, my friend, the wilted rose
Behold her soon, for thus she goes

The Wedding Feast

Evening fell upon the wedding feast
The guests were blessed by the priest
They toasted as the banquet spread
And drank deep to the newlywed

Then dancing on the dewy lawn
She trembled like a newborn fawn
While the twinkling stars bespoke
Their solitude ’fore dawn awoke

She said my Christ I choose thy cross
My souls ruin is Ishtar’s loss
She mixed a poison in her wine
A crown of thorns from tangled vine

A dream where paper lanterns hang
Between the trees when midnight rang
To lead her to the wedding-bed
And bid her soul lost to the dead

Solo

When dawn arose her tender breath
Did not awake the bride from death
Her spirit wanders through the deep
And dreams in the abyss of sleep              

_________________________
Copyright Jeffrey S. Merk 2013