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The Bedlam - Creature of Madness

THE BEDLAM
Creature of Madness


And Lo, then rose The Bedlam from its lair,
dark creature infiltrating night

creating from its darkness unseen sight
infecting every fiber of life’s core

demanding from those lessened – even more.
Demon eyes that peer from deep within

the souls of maddened ordinary men
consumed in empty terrors without end.

Misshapen countenance constrained
by mind so fully twisted to deranged

the physical takes on the face of fear
 flaws of growing madness coming clear.

Thus does The Bedlam cut one from the herd
starve him till he feeds upon his self

devouring what might have set him free
imprisoned in its moonless lunacy.

Now mindless the maddened sits alone
tormented gargoyle slowly turned to stone.


John G. Lawless
6/8/2015

submitted to – London’s Pantheon of the Gods – Poetry contest
sponsor – Jerry T Curtis

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Ivor Davies

Date: 6/19/2015 3:40:00 AM

Brilliant, left wondering if you were inside the mind of the sculptor or the demon himself. One of the best I have read looking deep inside the torment of a different reality...Ivor

John Lawless
Date: 6/19/2015 5:47:00 AM

Ivor, I think we sculpt our own demons. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

Skat A

Date: 6/15/2015 7:19:00 PM

awesome win

John Lawless
Date: 6/19/2015 5:46:00 AM

Thanks SKAT

Jerry T Curtis

Date: 6/15/2015 7:42:00 AM

Thanks John for entering my contest, although a seemingly difficult task, You did a magnificent job of capturing the Bedlam. You did so well that it was a struggle for me to judge 1st place, Both you and Marylen have an uncanny understanding of these characters. Thanks again

John Lawless
Date: 6/15/2015 10:17:00 AM

Jerry, when you've been through two sets of teenagers, kids and grandkids, bedlam is a daily dance. Thanks for an interesting prompt and for taking the time to sponsor the contest.

Mark Trichet

Date: 6/15/2015 6:46:00 AM

John this verse is incredible, so full of powerful lines that build to a maddening end that you have captured brilliantly. Congrats only barely covers it, but again i just love it!

John Lawless
Date: 6/15/2015 10:15:00 AM

Thank you Mark for your comments, they are always appreciated.

Laura Leiser

Date: 6/14/2015 3:01:00 PM

I've always been fascinated with gargoyles, and you describe the creature's characteristics so well (personality, too). Congrats on your well deserved win, John!

John Lawless
Date: 6/14/2015 5:48:00 PM

Laura, one of the best movie lines ever....The Hunchback of Notre Dame...Charles Laughton(i think) in the final scene as the hunchback sitting among the gargoyles sadly lamenting..."Why can't I be of stone - as these" At least I think it was Laughton and I think that is what he said.

Jan Allison

Date: 6/14/2015 2:30:00 PM

wonderful dark imagery - congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx

John Lawless
Date: 6/14/2015 5:45:00 PM

Thanks Jan, always good to hear from you.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/8/2015 10:53:00 PM

wow, I love getting to the end and finding out it's a gargoyle. I had no CLUE what this contest wanted. Congrats to you if you figured out what he wanted!!

John Lawless
Date: 6/15/2015 10:14:00 AM

Andrea, I wasn't really sure either so I just let the muse run loose. Thanks for stopping by.