Mewling Fear: A Question

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

darkfearnarrative

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Beryl Edmonds

May 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM

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

Jan Allison

May 3, 2025 at 1:49 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

May 3, 2025 at 4:22 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

May 2, 2025 at 10:47 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

May 3, 2025 at 4:21 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

May 2, 2025 at 7:09 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

May 2, 2025 at 8:00 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.