The Dryad's Scream - 22 Mar 2016
I heard the dreadful Dryad's scream
As axe bit into woody flesh
The sap oozed out as scented cream
My veins stood out in rictal mesh
My wits all scrambled left me quick
My hands and face were full a-sweat
My thumping heart did quite a trick
My breeches foul-smelled were a-wet
Into the woods I'd ventured forth
When wise ones counseled not to go
They told me of dark Astoroth
Of dales and dells where dryads grow
Oh, fie, oh, phish, such figments wild
I scorned these wizened men's advice
As often wonted of a child
I heeded not the words so wise
So with sharpened axe, spritely tread
I entered the faerie woods
With no foreboding and no dread
Ready to woo Red Riding Hoods
When deep into the woods I reached
I heard a soft tremulous trill
Is this the Dryad's song they'd teached
A soothing song upon a hill
I saw a stream come gurgling down
Singing its self-sweet melody
I lay down on the soft green lawn
And deeply slumbered peacefully
I felt the whispers of the breeze
The scent of flowers in their bloom
I felt my tresses someone tease
Bridesmaids all giggling at the groom
But sad to say this somnolence
It was fore-doomed to not last long
A malignant malevolence
Put an earworm of evil song
A song that corrupted all that's good
Sowing wild seeds of vile discord
My brain did rot I understood
Neither conscience, nor word of God
I woke up in a fuzzy trance
My axe I ground against the 'stone
I spied a comely maiden dance
A song she sang all on her own
Besotted was my evil mind
Unholy cesspool at the core
The wraithlike nymph I wished to bind
In lustful limbs forevermore
So Satyr-like was my desire
Even Pan would turn red with shame
The sylphlike sprite set me afire
I grabbed her hard to douse my flame
The willowy maid gave a gasp
And turned to ethereal mist
She stung me like a maddened wasp
She unloosed herself with a twist
She did slip like Will-o-the wisp
Melded into a nearby tree
My hair with static crackled crisp
A mocking laugh full maddened me
lust replaced by towering rage
I rushed to the tree she'had graced
Searched for her in the branches maze
But not a hiint could be traced
My axe raised high, I brought it down
Swiftly cut into sapwood soft
The sap was red not white or brown
Founts of lifeblood were thrown aloft
That was the time I heard the scream
My eardrums tore their tympanums
My blood it turned to curdled cream
eyes popped out, tongue trapped by gums
My toes they curled and dug in ground
My knees and joints all gnarly turned
My spine it fully wrung around
Silken skin shed, rough bark adorned
the sun and moon's diurnal churn
Mock me through night and through the day
I wish I could just die and burn
Rooted, sentient, this way stay
Cursed forever is my lot
To Neither thrive nor grow an inch
But feel the pain of worm and rot
A gibbet for unholy lynch
But doomed forever to this fate
Of release I can only dream
But most of what I dread and hate
That dreadful sound - the Dryad's scream!
Copyright © Karam Misra | Year Posted 2016
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