The Mist About The Reeds
E'er the mists about the reeds
Retell of terror and ghastly deeds
The headless omen that wanders yon
The moonless shadows that fright the fawn
And gloom the meadow and grove beyon'
The slight weeping upon the breeze
The gaping maw betwixt the trees
The silver rill and naked chill
That glimmer and run down a broken hill
Where writhing shadows accost the sky
And blame the dusk for where they lie
For in the light they find no grave
For fear of night, never delved, -
Nor ritual spell their souls might save
Left to desecrate a verdant wood
Before the crying bowers the gawkers stood
The youngest screams seem turned to tears
In eyes and hearts and whelming fears
Cowards fell where courage made charge
Too late, too late by such wide a marge
They left them there, they could not bear
E'en their own blood could not drive them ere
And though the moon would have his head
Selene in wrath marked the children dead
And cursed the grove and the little town
That listened well whilst he cut them down
And bade them delve hallowed graves
But none such from such cowardly knaves
Nor mattock lifted, nor earth sifted
Nor spade, hence apace no curse lifted
Bleeding hearts doth mark the maw
The crow, the raven, doth caw and caw
Through the night and to the dawn
Hark sleepless cowards, ye curtains drawn
As barren as the desert, tears
No children's laughter heard in years
Nor fruitful harvest, nor answered prayers
Nor fortune weeping where cowards dare
Not lift the shroud of woven fear
The frail threads they hold so dear
Their own lives before others
Rueful kin, sisters, brothers
For whom the years have made so bitter
For the pulse would cease atwitter
And lay thee there bereft of graves
Nor painted upon the picket staves
Sorrow masks nor paltry remittance paid
At last ye layest in the beds ye made
Not one is left that draws a breath
Forever in grapple with their children's death
Never shall the innocents rest?
Never shall the guilty, by divine behest!
But lift each child to such godly height
That they may forever rest in eternal night
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
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
