Beckon Me Still

A tale of blood and death and woe...

I am lost, sweet Purity,
So lost
Fool that I was, my curiosity
Bent my will
To gaze behind the looking glass
I knew not the cost
And fate, my fate, has guided me ill

The whispers drew me, lured me, through the night
On past the shadows and o'er the hills
Away from safety and far beyond the light
I could not, would not see
The truth of things that haunt me still
Doleful river, Acheron, that won't set me free

Now I can't ever escape,
My chains
Bound by the blood, remnants of old mistakes
I am cursed
To wait long past the living last
Tasting red wine stains
And pain, my pain, driven by the thirst

Sweet siren touched me, loved me, as I died
Beneath the moon and within the halls
Sheltered from sunlight out where the vile ones hide
I cried to, tried to scream
Inside the earth while dark things crawl
Woeful river, sister Lethe, where only memories dream

I am cold, this pallid skin,
So cold
As I stalk forth, to slay my earthly kin
Hard I fight
To keep myself from wicked acts
Loss that church bells tolled
The eyes, my eyes, empty in the night

Bright blood it holds me, molds me, as I burn
Aching hunger deep within my soul
Unfettered urges to have that for which I yearn
I battered, shattered chains
Killing myself to make me whole
Scorching river, Phlegethon, just one sip to cast me in flames

Why, my God, why me forsake?
Oh God
I prayed to you, to help me awake
Save my life
Release me from my sins, my past
Defiled, tainted, flawed
The wails, their wails, echoes of my strife

Darkness maimed me, claimed me, for its own
Rivers running far into my core
Tarnished servant of Erebus by Night enthroned
I slumbered, hungered long
Victim of lost and ancient lore
Spiteful river, by Styx vowed, dripping waters quest for life prolonged

I am gone, empty and void
All gone
My mercy fled, by hate destroyed
Bitter, pale
Thirsty for the lives of men, at last
Howling demon vicious spawn
And death, that Death, sovereign of the Veil

Carnage swallowed me, followed me, where I tread
Legends still are told, cold night fables
Mysteries of me and mine and mortal dread
We've thrilled you, killed you all
Like elder Cain and sad drawn Abel
Keening river, Cocytus, long lamenting humanity's fall

I am dead, sweet, sweet Purity,
So dead
Yet corpse that I am, I live eternally
True I hunt
And ever hear that carmine call
Which nothing can fulfill
Save red, your red, oh Beckon Me Still!

Author's Note

There are five rivers within the Greek underworld, each ruled over by its own god.

The River Acheron - - - > http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosAkheron.html

The River Lethe - - - > http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosLethe.html

The River Phlegethon http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosPyriphlegethon.html

The River Styx - - - > http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosStyx.html

The River Cocytus - - - > http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosKokytos.html

Erebus was the Greek god of darkness. - - > http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Erebos.html

Nyx was the Greek goddess of night. - - > http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Nyx.html

Among other things, this poem is inspired by the poem "It Calls", by TinaK.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Tinawolfie/1030622/

Reviews

[Madalyn Beck]

Wow. I love this write. Truly! You have a way with words Caradoc and I'm so happy I stopped by to read this masterpiece! My favorite lines were these:

"Now I can't ever escape,
My chains
Bound by the blood, remnants of old mistakes
I am cursed"

Fantastic. Absolutely perfect. (:

[Caradoc]

Thank you so much, Madalyn. I am not sure if I prefer this piece over Painted Echoes, Scents of Sin, but it is definitely in my top 5.

I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks again for stopping by. :)

[Madalyn Beck]

I will be checking those out then! (:

[Caradoc]

I hope you enjoy them. :)

[Lyn Anderson]

It seems I never read this piece, popping in and out in my angst over one troll or another, I guess. At any rate, I have told you before, it takes a lot for me to like these stories, (that's what this poem reads like) and you are very good at these. (And I didn't catch any grammar errors, at least, not first read.:)

[Silver Angel]

That is beautiful, I agree that it is haunting, and it moved me. Thank you

[Caradoc]

You're welcome and thank you for dropping in to read and review.

[Horizon K.]

A haunting and intricate piece with exquisite rhyme scheme. The complexity of this makes me wish I could hear this one read by the author himself... I do believe that as poets we have the best grasp of how to read our poems aloud for full effect. It also makes me want to write my own poem, on the taste of blood and what it means to my own characters. Something I've never really done. Anyway... I also found it interesting that even though you reference these rivers of the underworld without describing them, I did feel as if I were walking along them there, looking remorsefully at the monster I had become, longing for things I shall never have again... purity... Very effective piece Cara! I truly enjoyed :)

[Caradoc]

Thank you very much, Horizon. It is good to hear from you again. It would be nice to think my piece helped inspire another poet. I wish you luck and look forward to reading it.

Indeed we do know how best to read aloud our works. Not to brag too much, but I have been told by others who have heard me read them aloud that I have a "storyteller voice". I like to think they are right.

As for the rivers, I am fascinated by Greek mythology and of course it has its own version of vampires, another thing which fascinates me. Since I love to combine mythologies, mixing them with real history, history, and my own ideas, I had to write this poem. The rivers themselves play a role in the characteristics of some of the vampires I write about. Each is almost a metaphor for certain aspects of the condition.

In conclusion of my drawn out reply, I am very glad you enjoyed this one and were able to envision yourself as the narrator. One goal as a writer has been met. :)

Be well my friend.

[Caradoc]

Edit: That second "history" in the third paragraph is supposed to be "religion". Seriously...facepalm.

[Horizon K.]

Lol... Very cool, I like to read my poems out loud too to others, very fun:) Too bad WC doesn't have an easy option for something like that. Anyway, now I'm curious about those rivers! And yeah, I'll get "into character" and try to write a juicy blood-loving poem sometime soon;)

[Dewella~Vintella]

As always truly amazing Cara. I always envied your ability to write with purpose as well as simple spotieity. For me I just write, and it either turns into something or it does not; I was never able to pick a subject to create something from it as you are so beautifully able to do.

[Caradoc]

For me, at least, I find that the subject has to engender some spark of passion or interest in me before I can write about it. Love always works, as does longing and depression. So does the supernatural, vampires and creatures drawn from religion especially.

Perhaps picking a subject that you felt passionate about would aid you in "writing with purpose".

Thank you, as always, for reading and reviewing me, my old friend. :)

[Cool Handless Luke]

epic. a tragedy perhaps the greeks could ponder? the imagery and word choices were splendid. and i love to see where one poet here inspires another. awesome. now off to read the inspiration...

[Caradoc]

Thank you for your kind words. This is one of the pieces I am most proud of and had the most fun writing. I hope you enjoy Tina's poem as much as you enjoyed this one.

[quinfinn]

this reads like a greek tragedy and is absolutely chock full of excellent wording and classic references which combine to create a virtual nightmare of a tormented soul begging for his own salvation. masterfully penned, this is utterly superb!

[Caradoc]

Thank you for your praise. I figured I'd finally toss you a r/r and wondered what your reaction to this piece would be.

Again, thanks. So glad you liked it.

[quinfinn]

a pleasure to read, for certain

[Pax]

this is what i like about your poems even though i can't picture out fully the imagery which is i think is mind blowing, the feelings is there, i knew it, i felt it.... the plea to the gods for cleansing a dark soul... the flow of words is smooth in the tongue, like i am reading a poetic play of the classic literature... Brilliant my friend...

[Caradoc]

That's quite a compliment. Thank you very much. I'm glad you liked it. This is probably one of the ones I am most proud of. I tried to weave story, mythology, religion, and maybe a little bit of history together to create something awesome.
I think I succeeded.

[Pax]

yup, you did.. and you should be proud!

[Tina Kline]

Thanks for the mention here.
I'm glad I inspired you to write this.
This poem is full of dark tragedy, loss and pain. A helplessness flows through the poem too. A loss of life yet there is no true death only an eternity that doesn't look so wonderful once you have it. An outstanding poem. I really like this a lot!

[Caradoc]

Can't believe I didn't respond to this ages ago. Thanks so much Tina. I couldn't have written this without first reading your awesome work. :)

[Tina Kline]

You're very welcome. :)

[Rain]

Hi Caradoc,
I can tell you write with deep passion. That is in your favor. But, I must admit I just didn't feel what I look for. I know many people like this style, but I always end up being confused. This is probably a flaw in the reader and not the Writer. I will read more of your work and see if I can get a better grasp. I consider you a Brother Writer..regardless if we differ.

[Caradoc]

Thank you for your kind words. Indeed, it could go either way. I thank you for seeing that and you have my utmost respect for recognizing that we are both Writers. The Art is our passion, regardless of talent, skill, or opinions.

I sincerely hope that you are able to find what you seek, if not in my work, then in that of someone else.

With the sentiments of a stranger on the internet, and for all that they may be worth, I wish you well.

-Caradoc

[Rain]

That was a cool reply. You have my respect..