The Bone Idol
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[First posted in 3 parts. Intended novel: time never allowed]
Prologue
This, Sir, is the prologue from before our tale begins
About the day our father did succumb to mortal sins
And left behind a man who would succumb to fame and plonk
A man born of no earthly union, let's call him Lee Stonk
Twas his second coming, he'd been here once before
Found the ladies wilder than when last he trod our shore
Coveted the Devil's maiden, seduced him drove him wild
His own rules of engagement broken left her with a child
Refrain from interference, not how things are done
Tamper not with things that should never have begun
And yet for one so mighty who dwells beyond the sky
Can it be unholy to maintain a watchful eye
So make no intervention (yet) to guide his mortal soul
In Lee Stonk's future there's no drugs... Just booze and rock and roll
The Bone Idol
Megastar, rock star rules the music scene
Praise for each performance be it raucous or serene
Teenage mimics gather wherever he may go
And frantic crowds do battle to attend his every show
But the gift of popularity may not forever last
Though no noose nor prescription pill shall make him of the past
For now where hidden hideaway ensures he is not found
He near to death from alcohol lies face down on the ground
Yet unseen hands that raise him from his now unconscious fate
Offer unto him a chance to be forever great
What is it you fear, pray tell me, what is it you fear
Insecurity, obscurity the fears you hide in beer?
I want to never die, to keep my life and limb together
I want to keep my voice, my talent and to sing forever
I want to be revered eternal fall from favor never
So tell me guardian savior... Might you be that clever
All these things I offer the phantom vision said
But what you ask is what you get so be clear in your head
For that you crave is final and shall save you from the hearse
But once I grant your wish as said I shall not then reverse
Then alcohol oblivion overcomes once more
And one moon then another watch him cooling on the floor
Till a sun a third time radiates it's living heat
Hair of dog shall clear the fog for fans he has to greet
And over time with youthful vigour holds his leading place
No creaking joint no heart disease restricts his agile grace
Years run into decades the man remains the rage
No public change in taste as his music fails to age
But nought can save his aging skin which fails to stay the pace
As ulcerating blisters burst and fester on his face
Though light of foot necrotic flesh shall not deny his years
When a head banging performance robs him of his ears
For withered flesh now putrefying peels and falls away
As fans extol this gothic twist to mimic lips gone grey
And none shall raise a question as he sheds his hair in clumps
Cavorting round the stage while trailing bloody fleshy lumps
Decrepit priest so learned to have studied ancient lore
Set to serve his purpose enters through a backstage door
No place for such abomination in polite society
Offers up a cocktail... of the Molotov variety
Manic conflagration enrapts bewildered hoards
Till flesh denuded charcoaled bones collapse upon the boards
Fans bedeviled mount the stage to tear the priest apart
Some just stare at what burns last... their star's still beating heart
By and by the media mass whence audience guided out
Many silent stand and stare while others mill about
Then their idol stretchered out, who might do him harm
All fall silent as he raises one skeletal arm
No medic and no man of science can deny this truth
No SFX or trickery shall dare refute the proof
As public live performances the like of which unknown
See skeletal artiste play his ribcage xylophone
Thus this flesh denuded hero sings though without lungs
De-sockets both his femurs to set about the drums
Other artists fade away he rules astride them all
So hark the king of rock and roll, the one eternal....
Bone Idol.
Of course tis said that every story must attain an end
And so ours might until a show the FBI attend
Civic duty lays it's burden on our boney brother
Retain your public image but serve us undercover
You have no nerve for lethal toxin ever to attack
No blood to flow when shot or stabbed in either chest or back
And with an empty skull if cracked no brain inside shall splatter
And no offence your look alone shall make the felons scatter
The point well made aside an error almost shouted loud
Tell me how a man of bone shall blend into a crowd
But I will do my duty and defend this land for you
But I shall do this publicly while stage performing too
So megastar turned superhero plays a double role
By day he serves up rhythm and by night he saves our soul
And halts the rising rate of crime that had of late been tidal
So let us praise our ever present heaven sent Bone Idol
Epilogue
He prowls the night in shadows twixt the bat the rat and cat
Keeps his hairless cranium hid beneath his tan rimmed hat
And lest he scares the homeless like he's been born out of hell
Behind dark shades his vacant sockets hide away as well
Whilst for the law abiding he will rock and roll all day
But show your criminality he'll lock you all away
His clothes all tailor made to fit shed very little doubt
On the notion that our hero has no flesh to pad them out
Whilst he has no need for food, he hasn't any guts
He passes time by nibbling packs of jelly beans or nuts
They bounce around his ribcage then they trail along the ground
To feed Cedric his rat sidekick who follows him around
Desist young man he bellowed, ‘What you’re doing is a crime.’
The hooded villain raised his gun, ‘Ain’t gonna do no time,
My gun says I’m the man in charge, you can’t deny the truth.’
In a flash our idol spat... And shot him with a tooth
And so he prowls the shadows where no lawful man shall dare
Only those of I'll intent shall stand or loiter there
But nothing here shall cause him fear nor get under his skin
A knife glints in the moonlight and he cannot help...
...but grin
Copyright © Terry Flood | Year Posted 2021
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