this familiar stranger

Seems I'm in love again

I talk to ravens and my mind lives in legend

I want no part of the magic that life possesses

For that is an art too dark for my hands

So I wander in dreams and travel in visions

Here the magic is clean and pure and mine

Life has been the harsh mistress that has

Tutored my mind

Scoured my flesh

Tortured my heart

So I prefer my fortress of solitude

My calm in the storm

My sanctuary

My mind

 

But this familiar stranger is flesh and blood

She is living

She is life

Her magic is not the magic that sickens me

It is like my own

And it scares me so

 

I can be a traveler in this world if I know what to expect

But how can I survive if this part does not fit

How can I walk a path of fate with doubt in my right hand

and fear in my left

 

My skill has been carved into my soul by

A wicked knife

And I shine when my thoughts are wicked

When my thoughts are dark I see through the veil

The ravens caw in cacophonous song

And tell me the mysteries of life and I write them down

This has always been my great secret

I am just a conduit

No greatness lies in me

 

But my heart soars in azure skies

And swims in forgotten lullabies

When she is near I hear no cries

Of black winged birds

No things implied

 

So is this darkness only lies

To blind me off a chosen path

Into the bramble thorny brush

Where madness and suicide eat their lunch

 

It seems my skill is greater still

Than once it was before

This familiar stranger that beckons to me

Fills me with light and cursed hope

And my path is clear

And my heart is wise

And I peer into her

Quenching eyes

And I can see no alibis

No painful end no hidden lies

But my heart soars in azure skies

And swims in forgotten lullabies

When she is near I hear no cries

Of black winged birds

Nothings implied

 

My fear is that

My mind is lost

She is a mirage in life’s desert

A figment of one who has learned to accept

My fear is that I will reach out to touch dimpled cheek

Or caress a bold curve

Or kiss a sculpted lip

And I will wake up

 

This familiar stranger that

scares me so

This familiar stranger that

 I can’t let go

Reviews

[Bard Constantine]

I enjoyed the unapologetic sentiments of dark love... the apprehension that a prince of darkness might feel when he realizes that despite all his power he still has a weakness for affection. Excellent job with this one...

[TBird J.]

Such dark and flowing imagery just like your writing style. Who would want to wake up from a dream when loves standing there waiting for your hand!

[Lilly]

The flow of this and the images you have created are so great!

[brae]

a masterpiece.

[Emily B]

wow! wondrous write

[Helen Crutchett]

Wonderfully penned Raven. Full of superb imagery and certainly unique.
I can't praise this enough! Well done! Thank you for submitting this to my Valentine's contest! ~ Helena

[praying for help]

i really enjoyed reading this piece.

"i shine when my thoughts are wicked"

nice. very nice.

[miSS LEaf]

very moving and lyrical, i simply love it! thank you~
(L)

[MoonTig3r]

this was amazing! such flow of words and thoughts. you can look deeply into this poem and can't come out. just amazing.