and pass beyond the eerie marsh
I catch my first sight of it
the cursed final destination
of my long treacherous journey
the castle of Zwénne the Lesser
once my home, now foreign to me
this castle is most ominous
since becoming Overlord of the Realm
Zwénne has rejected our father’s example
as our father rejected him and his ways
no joy warms the hallways, or towers
this long proud and mighty old structure
now a soulless abode of dark magic
it has become cold and foreboding
a nest for perverse wing’d changlings
rumored deadly for those that dare enter
but I know they are not just rumors
there is undoubtedly a murderous evil
that dwells within its walls
raging jealousy — seething and vicious
since conjuring the spirit
of Döxys, the blood beast
and having been thus possessed
Zwénne has become bloodthirsty
mindlessly violent and cruel
now a ruthless predator
whom I have come to slay
would that this task were not mine
but I have been charged herewith
by the supreme council of wizards
Zwénne is my fallen elder brother
and by decree, under this 3rd moon
in the presence of his perverse court
by my hand alone, he must die
no turning back now, this must be done
and I must do it, but I am terrified
I hesitate at the heavy castle door
attempting to gain much needed composure
I slow my heartbeat, steady my breathing
I lift the iron latch, the lock clicks
the massive door unseats inwardly
this is it, fate has dealt the cards
I am both prisoner and executioner
trapped hopelessly in this horrible plot
I search my soul to find the courage
to take the life of my own flesh & blood
I swing the door open ever so gradually
eyes darting, mind racing, heart pounding
I step in…
To check out more poems at dVerse: CLICK HERE
God Almighty, you written a preface to a 700 page Gothic Fantasy novel. This is right down your creative alley, like the Science Fiction poems you’ve shared with us. We did a similar prompt early last year, or so, and I wrote something almost akin to your dusky gem. This blows me away, making you a candidate for MVP–most valued poet.
Thank you my friend. I have been cursed, since my fractured dichotomy of a childhood, with both vivid nightmares, and imageless night terrors — do I have much fodder for dark and gothic. It helps me purge. I have always, always wanted to write a gothic syfy novel. My add and ocd tendencies have worked against me. I can’t hold the sustained singular focus, day after day, that is required to complete a novel. I have accumulated a pile of partially-started efforts. Writing poetry suits my wiring brother.. Thank you for your always gracious words Glenn. This old man appreciates them — and you dude. You know, we’ve never met, but you probably know what dwells within me as well, or better, than many of my friends — past and present… except for my fellow bandmates through my life. I was open and vulnerable with them.
You capture the essence of rage magnificently with; “I am both prisoner and executioner trapped hopelessly in this horrible plot.” Yes. It takes a toll on the person experiencing it. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 🙂
Thank you, and you are welcome Sannaa… 🙂
Such a place to find oneself in. Forced by decree to enter a toxic place and destroy one of your bloodline while the enemy’s cohort watches.
“I am both prisoner and executioner” says so much. I know he will prevail, but he will also be in sorrow by his victory.
Yes Lisa, I fully believe both brothers will die — each in their own way… 🙁
Yeah. What he said!!!
Yeah, that’s right Bev…! 🙂
I want to know what happened next! As Glenn said, this could be the opener to a brilliant Gothic novel. Great use of the prompt, in any case!
Thank you Ingrid… 🙂 …As I said in my response to Glenn, I have tried a number of times to write a novel, I am just not wired for the singular-focus marathon required to do so.
one word WOW loved this
Thank you Rog… 🙂
“Would that this task were not mine” “….I step in…”
Cliffhanger Goth! Great work, RK.
Thank you Ron — and stay tuned… 😉
I love the story and background details, and suspense at the end. This line is amazing:
I am both prisoner and executioner
Thank you Grace… 🙂
I never felt rage before, Rob, but I have a good idea of what it must be like from your epic poem! Your imagination went into overdrive and created an eerie setting and truly Gothic characters. These lines had me on the edge of my seat:
‘no turning back now, this must be done
and I must do it, but I am terrified
I hesitate at the heavy castle door
attempting to gain much needed composure
I slow my heartbeat, steady my breathing
I lift the iron latch, the lock clicks
the massive door unseats inwardly’.
How evil and perverse to leave me on a cliffhanger!
I never claimed to be a good guy Kim… 😉
wow o wow .. who says you have to write a novel daily … this demands a sequel and you could just revisit it as you wish or look at blending your unfinished stuff.
Oh that they slay jealousy instead of each other!
Yo Kate! That is an ibteresting perspective on both how to approach writing a movel — and the plot twist, that they slay jealousy. Hmmmmm?
This is phenomenal Rob.
Thank you Linda, very much…!
This could be the start of a fantasy novel!
Thank you Jane. Wish I had the patience and sustained focus to write a novel. I get distracted, then get entwined in realtime editing loops, then I get frustrated, then I say hell with it, then it lives as a fragmented draft. I am much better wired for poems and flash fiction. I think I could be a pretty good co-author, as long as I really respected my partner in writing. Who knows, I am probably too old, cranky, and firmly set in my ways now.
Rage described this way feels exactly like it works… a fortress with walls imprisoning us… both prisoner and executioner indeed. The fantasy theme works perfectly and I can feel that in this word the knight has no shining armor
Yes, there may be a good guy, but it seems no one gets out alive — or certainly, undamaged.
Oh my! What a cliffhanger!
I understand not writing a novel, but perhaps another couple parts to this story. ????
I’m not sure why there are four question marks. Hahaha. I’ll blame it on my cat helping me. ????
Not your error Merril. My site and theme are so old that emojis don’t work. A smiley face will appear if you first type a colon — : — followed by an immediately adjacent right parentheses mark — ) — doing this will give you this 🙂
You and Tricia made similar suggestions that I do a collection of verses to move the story plot forward. I replied that, should I pursue this, I could even create some prequel poems to help set up the overriding story plot. Thank you for suggesting this Merril. Hmmmmm? 🙂
http://www.image-verse.com/the-brin
http://www.image-verse.com/distant-farewell
If you’re curious Merril, here are a couple more of my “plot” poems that could spawn serial poeming to further develop the plot and characters. I believe you may have read, or partially read “Distant Farewell”.
A brilliant, dark lead up to opening that door! “I am both prisoner and executioner,” this is a tragic tale. I think you could very well write a collection of these poems for a longer publication, perhaps at different points of times, just various flashes of the story that could move the plot forward. My son has been reading a verse novel, with each page a poem that moves the whole story forward, so creative!
Thank you Tricia… 🙂 …a verse novel, yes, that’s definitely a strong possibility — great idea! I could write some prequel verses to set it up even stronger with back story. Hmmmmm?
http://www.image-verse.com/the-brin
http://www.image-verse.com/distant-farewell
If you’re curious Tricia, here are a couple more of my “plot” poems that could spawn serial poeming to further develop the plot and characters.
Thanks for the links! I like the term “serial poeming,” haha! I have thought about it myself. There are also genres such as Experimental category that allows an author to write outside the box.
You’re welcome Tricia… 🙂
Dark. Foreboding. And impressive.
Thank you Ken… 🙂
“I am both prisoner and executioner”
You have out-Gothiced Gothic!
Excellent, Rob!
Thank you Sara… 🙂