Cadaver Chaser

This one is actually a song. The character is the basis of a novel I'm currently researching. It concerns a man who's only joy in life is derived from attending viewings and funerals...

He seemed to always hover in the corner of the darkness.
Never feeling sorry for the mourner or the carcass.
Dark infatuation. He followed where death marches.
Captured by the light in the depths of the dead marshes.

Another day, another quest for decay.
Now he's soaking up the grief in such a decadent way.
I could never tell, if he's envious, or if it's something else.
Maybe just a funny way of trying to confront himself.

Another helping of misery and despair.
If he would have known them, would he have even cared?
Cadaver Chaser at funerals everywhere,
in suits an odd mixture of ghoulish and debonair.

Never stare in his eyes. Death resides there.
Purposefully living in a permanent nightmare.
Spending every minute in a funeral home.
Surrounded by the grief till he's immune to his own.

Obituaries are calling cards.
Living off the energy leeched from fallen stars.
His face as barren as Mars.
In his black suit, with his black eyes, in his black car.

Hunting for The Gate Of Hesperides.
The living seemed to fuel his anxiety.
Society crumbles in time. Death is forever... The equalizer.
The engine that keeps us moving. The fear of it feeds the fire.

Death makes him feel so alive.
When the pyre's reflected within his eyes, feel his temperature rise.
Like the eater of souls, he's increasing the force.
Life source of the recently deceased on his fork.

Reviews

[Alina]

What a creative idea and a great title, it pulls you right in. You are very good at creating imagery. "Surrounded by the grief till he's immune to his own." is a very powerful sentence - I wonder if this is the key to this man's strange obsession? Also, the line "Society crumbles in time. Death is forever... The equalizer." - is pointed, insightful and beautifully constructed!!

If I could make one suggestion, the grammar does not seem quite right in the line "If he would have knew them then would he even have cared?" It left me scratching my head a little bit...I think you can definitely play with grammar in poetry, so maybe its intentional...I'm not sure but it caught my attention.

[Daniel Malone]

Thank you. Concerning the grammar, it does sound a little off. In your opinion would, "If he would have knew them, would he have even cared?" work better?

[Alina]

I would change it to "If he had known them, would he have even cared?" or "If he would have known them, would he have even cared?"...I think it sounds off because "know" should be in the past tense...

[Daniel Malone]

Haha! WOW! That sounds so much better. Thank you! I feel like a twit! :)

[Alina]

You are welcome. It's hard to catch your own errors, it's always easier for someone else:)

[Rob Santana]

This is sick!! KILLER title man. So many favourite lines, good job.

[Singing Bird]

Amazing how different your poems are Daniel and the topics interestingly diverse as well. Your poems have a depth that leads me to read them several times. I seem to get different pictures in my head that lead me to other things. Thank you for sharing.

[Daniel Malone]

Thank you. I feel the same in concern to your works. You have a very metamorphic approach. I think it's important to not get stuck in a pattern.

[Brandon S. Whitten]

This is brilliantly written. Well done.

[Daniel Malone]

Thank you Brandon, and thanks for reading.

[Holly Mason]

song or not I like it
it is a great lead in to a darn good book if you ask me
death makes him feel so alive-interesting truly
this is very insightful and also very clever a hard combo
what a attention drawing title you have chosen-love it
thank you for sharing

[Daniel Malone]

Thank you so much!!!