I saw her gleam beneath a hollowed moon,
Her eyes were voids where galaxies have bled.
A predator whose silence sung my rune,
Each breath she drew, a shiver born of dread.
“Yet there are no pacts 'twixt beasts and men,”
Her whisper coiled, a serpent near my ear.
Yet still I danced, though death prowled in her den,
Some wretched lure had bound me close, sincere.
Her smile, untainted art, uncrafted and pure,
A blade of grace that cut without defense.
I stood transfixed yet strangely felt secure,
As shadows swayed with whispers deep, intense.
Her teeth, the scythe; my blood, a crimson thread,
And yet in this, I loved the truth she said.
(A lone voice whispers)
There are strange things man should not see.
Mythical creatures hidden in the half-light glow of dark places below, where it's too hot to snow.
Wild plays of rebellion and submission.
Far from church pulpits or crescent glows from so long ago.
I still can remember the deal I made when it-I into my house bade.
What was I to know when The Elder contract I did sign?
Only to hear my angel bell no longer chime.
So here I sit by the sea at a quarter to three, waiting for the thing man shouldn't see.
Will thou pray for me?
(C)
Copyright John Duffy
Hey cutie, hope you're comfy!
There's no reason we can't be friends.
Life can be much brighter ~
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
What twisted minds we have!
Fascinated by dark ritual,
sacrifice of human blood
to call black magic to our aid.
Alluring secret knowledge,
perilous complexities;
attempting to control
the supernatural.
How can this make sense anymore?
Two thousand years ago,
the Divine bled itself for us,
granted us power
despite our unworthiness and ignorance.
Freely given, and open to the light.
A ritual beyond our wildest dreams.
So condescendant, the Lord of the Light,
for all that we must do
is to believe,
and to eat,
And all is ours...
The terms of the pact really make no sense,
but God makes all things new.
3 June 2024
I am weary of my conscious awareness
Sometimes life is hard to believe
I know my intentions and how I feel inside
But, I'm not sure what others see?
It's not that I really care what people think of me
However, I never want to be despised
I'd like to be seen as someone who truly cares
But I'm finding honesty isn't always wise
I've made a pact with myself to always do my best
To step to the front of the line and lead the way
It seems so many - many times
I've had hell to pay
I've sought knowledge
I've questioned truths
I've asked people to clarify and evaluate
All I'm asking for is the scientific proof
For most, the fantasy is greater than reality
There's a greater comfort in the known
But it's in those late night moments in silence
There's discomfort when you're alone
There's fear in acknowledging our impermanence
For uncertainties, certainty is strongly applied
Unfortunately, the thought of not knowing
Creates irreconcilable thoughts deep inside
Perhaps I'm not crazy?
I'm just traveling on an unmarked road
The path may be unfamiliar and uncomfortable
But that's where strength is gained, and wisdom bestowed
I made a deal with the devil.
Yes that is true.
I didn't know the deal was for my love
And the devil was going to be you.
What will you do, when a man tells you,
After 20 years he never loves you?
He wishes you dead.
He only married you for the benefits.
What will you do?
I made a pact.
The pain I endured,
I’ll never feel it again.
I had to cut all the poison,
From every cell and vein,
Out of my body and memory.
It took a while to recover,
And heal from a scorpions’ sting,
But luckily I have God and my kids.
His poison kept me prison,
For many years.
I build a wall around myself,
Too fall in love never again.
But then I realized,
If I let this wall, just get stronger,
He will win.
I remain a victim.
I took a sledgehammer,
And broke it down.
I am free,
No more a captive,
But a survivor.
As of soul pact, hold and release
Each offered vibration
Flow with ease, like the morning breeze
Sidestepping stagnation
To make easy, earth life
Exit hatred and strife
Nonchalant, with bliss rife
Ego retract
As of soul pact
07-December-2021
Quietus
*Image of the enthroned Roman goddess Ceres provided by Pixabay.
Ceres, Goddess of Harvest: The Pact
Birthright rules they are Jupiter's sisters,
Hera, Vesta, Ceres, whose names glisters.
Ceres, the goddess of crop gathering,
whom the gods treat the best, no blathering.
When Ceres was sad, the harvest did die,
and the people did ask all the gods why?
Pretty Proserpine, Ceres daughter,
picking berries, her uncle did spotter.
The uncle was Pluto, and none other,
whose desires chokes empty minds to smother.
Pluto was the god of the underworld,
who had kidnapped her to his netherworld.
Proserpine met needs, kept in a dream,
ageless her stay be Pluto's fated scheme.
Jupiter sought out Mercury for aid,
a messenger god and smart son, think trade?
Proserpine marries, in turn, he must,
let her return for six months, would be just.
Pluto, Ceres, and Jupiter agreed,
six months growth, six months none, was then decreed.
2021 April 23
HMS - 10 syllables per line & RZ - exact rhymes checked
They had a pact that if one did, they would all have to.
One did and in a gruesome way, but the others backed off.
The non-completers spoke of it often,
discussed who the brave one was.
A suicide pact is weird in that way.
There are too many players.
Too many things can go wrong.
Some feel compelled to give in and do it later.
Others are in shock that one of their own did it.
Which one is brave? Which one is a coward?
When you are in the throes of it, neither feels good.
Many dark devious thoughts scamper across your soul.
You never fully resolve these roller coaster feelings.
Weirdest pact to get into; scary to commit to, terrifying to understand.
Best not to get reeled in.
not with her
she is paisley, this daring turquoise
her mind is lithium
I refuse to dance past my grayscale self
yellow and pink hippies enter the realm
imagination laughs
I will save you, she says
snicker snicker
purple rain contradicts my ideology
I note that veins of purple posies
not paisley at all gather around turquoise
Those veins soften her, Brown whispers.
We are from a variety of countries
I do not know Browns.
Having never met them
I pick up my pen and make a pact to ignore the others
They are laughing and readily include me though
We are painting the world now
I am enticed and enthralled
In spite of my silly resolve
Having fun with these borderline strangers
Within minutes I feel we have known each other
all the lifetimes of our souls.
Playful devils come and revel in the light of my ripening flaws. For if laws can’t prevent civil descent, I might as well hold onto your claws. I’ll offer a meal as I speak with zeal so we may strike a savory deal. Come work for me and the riches, you’ll see, will shower you as if it was meant to be.
There was a party where with my friends I went,
It wasn't anything special, just a regular event.
When in the crowd I saw him standing,
And the feeling of joy was overwhelming.
We started to talk and he said he had enough,
Let's go home this night has been rough.
I wanted to be there for him and hear him out,
It must be serious whatever this is about.
We walked home hand in hand once again,
Without a word and with no plan
We arrived at his house and we walked in,
And fulfilled that years old dream.
One week later we met at the local pub,
And talked about what happened after the club.
This was the day we formed a pact,
And discussed in detail the terms of this contract.
We might have had different reasons,
Since we both battled different demons.
Our goals however were the same,
And we both knew this was a dangerous game.
Word warm pact
In sure act
Tact knows well
What to tell
Pact firms voice
In brisk choice
Stern words cheer
Poise right here
Calm words best
This life quest
Thick and thin
Start within
Know your heart
Watch soul start
Leon Enriquez
05 April 2020
Singapore
Words in fond surge
Now merge with urge
Verse in crisp rhymes
Sparks joy that chimes
Work thought to sketch
How cheer can match
Feel in fine lines
A touch most fine
Sculpt words that link
Deep sketch mind thinks
Here with calm pact
Watch feel grow tact
Act upon zest
To bloom new fest
Poise is a choice
In fragrant voice
Seek to do good
With change of mood
Leon Enriquez
19 March 2019
Singapore
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