Lapis Philosophorum

This is a poem based on the concept of the Philosopher's Stone.The point of view is an alchemist who was foolish enough to try and resurrect the dead with the Stone, only to fail. No one can play God.

Lapis philosophorum,
Cursed stone of imminent doom.
Head my warning, foolish man,
And forget ancient stories, while you can.

The scarlet jewel -immortal rose-
Surely kills them who impose.
Leave now and be on your way,
Or an untold price you'll have to pay.

Think me rude and out of my mind?
I was once, and crude, and blind.
But now I see the red - growing.
I am like an angel, omniscient, all-knowing.

An angel of God? surely you jest.
An angel of Lucifer at best.
Greedy thoughts once roamed my mind-
Of gold and supremacy I wished to find.

This, at present, seems unwise,
Why? It led to my demise.
The red glow haunting me in dreams,
A scream heard within undulating beams.

My mind, torn slowly apart.
"Save me, child - have a heart."
The spirit, trapped, made a din,
Wailing, blaming for my sin.

I committed the taboo, you know.
I attempted resurrection in that snow.
That snow covered, red with blood,
Bodies crawling through slick, warm mud.

Cries of "Thank thee!" turned to "Kill me!"
Evil and wretched the lapis turned WE.
WE the dead and WE the living.
Those whose lives they can't be giving.

Stuck in limbo, evermore,
Sinners knocking at our door.
Look behind, see what you've done.
Did you heed NO warning, son?

Learn from us the future must,
Even when, for power they lust.
And listen to this wary correction:
The flow of life goes only one direction.

In the stone, the wretched, small, unholy dome,
And in the stories of our home,
And in the philosophers that rest in Athens and Rome,
No soul should ever trust.

Reviews

[Flufflin]

Wow, this is fantastic! I feel like it goes on a bit too long for the kind of feeling it conveys, but what do I know? I'm afraid I don't understand your allusion, although now I'm curious. Anyway, your use of words is great! You should post more stuff!