Burning Rites

A collaboration with the wonderful artist Poppysilver

 

The enigma came to me

when death was just a novelty.

A hell spawn with Capricorn features

using my strengths against me,

giving me the power

to dig my own grave

with my idle hand.

Those eyes so sublime

pierced my heart like a dagger

and drained it till my bones

turned to stone,

then used my corpse

as the threshold to the underworld. 

 

But how easy it is to forget!

The soul can follow in limbo

To a place where pleasure and pain have no other purpose

Than to remind me of what it is that I have lost

Sisters of fire lure with serpents

That bear their scorn with banshee lamentations

I hear them all

Curse me

Mock me

Seduce me in flame

I trace the name of my sins 

In ashes beneath my feet

Here, foolishness feasts with vultures..we are all to blame

 

 

 

I willingly let the circle of fire

Engulf my body

So the ashes of my flesh can be used

To write my eulogy on parchment paper.

Then my scorched bones

Can become the stepping stones

Upon which arch angels can perform

A macabre dance.

May the damnation of this sacrifice

Be the gate way to salvation…

The light before me becomes blinding.

Ghostly eyes adjust to see…

            A stairway made of hot coals.

 

In front of what is now only a shard

Of what I was

Ravens circulate

"Look at your destiny."

I procrastinate

Before me...no shelter from death upon death

Behind me...no angel is patient enough to hear my distress

So it shall continue...eternally

I shall fall

Lament with no liberation as the demon calls

Here, time sneers in stagnant water

Holds no empathy as I falter in mud

Here, I shall forever walk upon blades.

Author's Note

I was honored when Poppy agreed to work with me on this piece. Thank you so much dollface.

Reviews

What a wonderful collab, as both of you have the talent to write true art. I feel so gothic after reading. And that's always good ;) It's truly a masterpiece, woven occult anxiety in such wickedly excellency :D

[Larry Dyson]

different types of surrender.. one deprecating to make an offering and reduce it to the minimal attention to self ..the other in your face surrender to the process and the resultant ash of oblivion..you two should do this more often...two separate but divergent paths to the "same as"(metaphorical) goal.

[anne p. murray- LadeeAn..]

Excruciatingly awesome, brilliant and powerful

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

Wow. An amazing write from two brilliant artists on the Cafe. Taking the reader on a deep and powerful trip through hell. Loved this piece, Nicely done to you both.

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing poem. Poppy assisted you on a trip to hell. The description held me till the last word. A deep write with a internal struggle and great story in the poem. Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

the mythical quality adds the flames of mysticism to this wonderful collaboartion between two that blends into a singulairy that poetically burns bright and brighter!~

[The Analog Kid]

"....using my strengths against me,
giving me the power
to dig my own grave..."

Intense poem guys. You free spirits work well together:)

[Ruth]

A blessing Dale, love, loved it :) xoxo ♥

[Liza]

oh my goodness, mesmerizing.
i was personally locked in when the image of capricorn leaped in
it painted and drew out my experience with the stubborn goat
the pain and balance gained from someone bringing me back to earth
trying to dig me under beneath them...
thank you for sharing - this was necessarily alarming and amazingly dramatic.

[Hayley]

Whew! An amazing thing is created when two amazing people get to work together!
I can definitely see both of your personalities in this poem, making it powerful, relatable, and straight to the heart.
"Here, I shall forever walk upon blades."
A perfect ending to a breath-taking poem!