In the torture chamber
Surrounded by nerves, veins
Flesh, blood, encased in bones
I shudder at the merciless
Incantation, the endless
Curses whispered through
Sinewy walls, deafening me
I stand captured in the maze
Of all my infernal thoughts
So deep, dark and vengeful!
Whispers of a wicked moon
Coldly slithering in my ear
Another dark, restless night
Closes on a frightful year
Carrying in its bosom
Remnants and nightmares
Of strangest days gone by
Apparitions looming large
Filling us up with dread
Of this virus-laden decade
My dreams serenade
The ghostly guard
In the vanishing distance
Darkness emerges
From behind auburn veils
Of a lonely sunset;
Lovers of the night
Twist and slither
In serpentine glee;
I wake up flushed
Burning from nightmares
Crawling on my cold skin.
Coiled within a serpentine fear
Slowly coming to life
Powered by venomous anxiety
Poised to strike
Restless under my clammy skin
I lament the loss
Of kindness, integrity, liberty
In this dark strife
That has led our worlds astray
With poisoned words
The stark beauty of silence
When only the eyes speak
Sometimes burning
As the lonely log
In an ashen fireplace
Sometimes cold
Like the winter snow
Only to be swept away
Blue Pen Strokes 