Mewling Fear: A Question

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Lin Lane.

Listen to poem:

Darkness engulfed me
I struggled to adjust to the shadows
blinked when my vision brought to light—
an empty room, rumpled sheets of an unmade bed
a tear-stained pillow where I'd laid my head

There was a wooden luster on the furniture
I sniffed the unmistakable church scent of candles
six long white tapers on two candelabra
My fingertips smoothed white satin beneath me
Thoughts began to drift, sifting through... what?

I was carrying the weight of an albatross 
My back bent from the burden held too long
Something was wrong
A mewling of fear formed a question 
that I dared not ask

In my ear, a whispered hisssss
"Go ahead and asssk it. It'sss commonplace."
A voice without a face—
disappeared without a trace

My submissive nerves feigning bravado
I tried to rise but curdled
There was a hurdle of some sort in my way
Eyelids too heavy to open
My arms reach to set me free
but I cannot move
No words escape on my tongue

I cursed the albatross that held me down
Away from me, I wanted it flung
I searched to find courage to ask
if I was facing death or a demon's call....
In my ear, a whispered hisssss
"Go ahead and asssk it. It'sss commonplace.
Asssk the question if you dare."
That voice without a face—
disappeared without a trace

I felt a kiss upon my cheek
from trembling lips that did not speak
That pungent scent of too many flowers
should've had me suffering a headache
Had I been resting here for hours?
"If this is not a dream
then tell me...." I beseeched

But the world was out of reach 
Thoughts abandoned me
I tried to feel a pulse, a heartbeat—

There was another kiss
Tears on my cheek, but not my own
I froze at the sound of another hissss

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 5/4/2025 10:37:00 AM

Very creepy Lin, but very good indeed, read it and then listened to the recording, excellent… Beryl

Jan Allison

Date: 5/3/2025 1:49:00 AM

i was hooked from start to finish Lin and had goosebumps down my spine - excellent ink as ever, eek I feel creeped out now! dark and deep and just darn brilliant!

Lin Lane
Date: 5/3/2025 4:22:00 AM

aww Jan, so sorry this one creeped you out. I was surprised I didn't creep myself out when writing this AND recording it. Maybe I should be worried about that! lol Thanks!

Ink Empress

Date: 5/2/2025 10:47:00 PM

Linnersz, Gosh so good to listen to a real human voice that is so powerful and soulful! I think this is one of your best readings and the poem is beyond impeccable! I dont think an amateur like me can write in such a seamless manner as youv done here! The line about th voice without a face really stood out for me! Sometimes a voice without a face too can do so much to out heart and soul when it disappears! I really love the albatross line too! How creative! I think youv done an exquisite job! The little details that paint imagery here is so catchy for me especially the candle line and what flowed after! You really are such a gifted poetess! You can do light and dark in your own way, without any influence, just flawlessly! I enjoyed reading this this morning and listening to your sweet elegant voice! I will listen again later too! Sending you light always

Lin Lane
Date: 5/3/2025 4:21:00 AM

So many kind comments, Ink. Thank you ever so much for each one, as well as for always letting me learn the lines you were drawn to. You've been such a wonderful friend. I'm so fortunate that we've gotten to know each other better. ;-)

Duke Beaufort

Date: 5/2/2025 7:09:00 PM

Lin, As a reader I'm intrigued. What could be the question that you have to ask? Perhaps, Am I still of the living? It might be something else. Now I have to stop and think for a while. It's very tough to deal with sadness and/or depression and fear. This piece is very potent and a bit scary too. I hope you are in a good place and thinking happy thoughts after writing this. I don't think I could write anything like this now. Maybe when I was young, but then I didn't have writing skills...just anxiety and fear.

Lin Lane
Date: 5/2/2025 8:00:00 PM

I'm fine, Duke and thank you for being concerned. A couple of those lines came to mind, and they just continued to creep in. "Creep" being the fodder that fueled the darkness. I would have wanted to ask, "Am I dead?" Interesting that you'd have asked, "Am I still living?" Gender difference? Glass half full or empty? More food to masticate.