The visit

A dark thing

Came to visit me

It stayed a while,

Said ;look at me

I am the bottom of your soul

you're drunken ragged heart,

and I tasted

shotguns and dead stars,

it wrapped me in it's arms

teased me and toyed with me

and spilt my seed

again and again

the weight of it's body

disembodying me

and I became  a hollow

in the mass of 

a dark thing

It spoke of it's worlds, 

said; you know these places

said; sometimes you come to

visit me as a dark thing,

in my dreams and blackouts,

whisperings of madness

and corruption,

was it Death's cold hand

upon my twitching c**k?

or was it mine on his

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

I like the review on the last two lines below and your response. You were like, duh.

So I had this feeling and I know it's a little far off, but when I was reading I had this viewpoint, not of death, but of maybe a mirrored darkness of the writers soul from another dimension. So in those wee hours of despair, the veil that splits the opposing pair becomes faint and it's possible that the two, in their darkness, can become one for a brief amount of time in a kind of nasty spiritual dark hole. And maybe when we get this chill up our spines that the scythe might be close, it's actually the fear and madness and sadness of our true soul mate which is ourselves. Idk. But your poem + a few late night cocktails = comments above. Great stuff on your part.

Awesome poem with shotguns and stars and the overall dark feel of it. A lot of deep black energy on a poetic avalanche that takes you on a ride. Makes you think and that's a thumbs up.

[gram linski]

Thanks CD, glad you liked it you got the schism spot on, this is not a poetic flight of fancy, this was a genuine experience in my Life,, and before John chips I am not a psychotic bam,

[CD Campbell]

Didn't think you were a psychotic, seem like a poetic explorer. People need to think and write outside the box.

[gram linski]

this is the best poem I've ever read, lol

[gram linski]

can't even spell xbo,

[Eilis]

There is a story about Martin Luther, the German theologian, where the devil comes to visit him in his study and in defense he throws a full inkwell at him. The inkwell hits the wall and the stain has a long life of its own. So it goes.

But then I read that our modern sensibilities don’t go in for stories like that. So, they stopped telling the story to visitors to his rooms and the ink stain (for whatever reason) disappeared. I found the first story perfectly believable because I went further and discovered his state of mind at the time, and so understood the possibility of the darkness descending. I liked the idea of combating the dark thing with ink because it is a singular power of man to fight against darkness with his own creation: language.

I found it troubling that people grew tired of or jaded to the idea that someone could find themselves at odds with the darkness and thereby lead the history to be altered to appeal to those who couldn’t stomach it. Science has brought us a lot of great things, but we can be a little too cynical or sight driven at times.

I’m talking a lot because I’m trying to decide how much I’d like to share of my own understanding of the dark thing you’ve shared here. I do know the shape and voice of the thing. And the way it plucks at weakness when we are at our weakest. I also know that reaching out to something outside of the circle—and doing so with language—can diminish the power of the dark somewhat.

Of course, it’s not always easy to reach beyond the voice leading you toward the precipice or jangling the pieces of the broken soul in its hands, but it is a power we still have when we feel powerless.

The shotguns and dead stars are powerful symbols of a death walk stance, in my mind. A bit chilling. And the poem as a whole, to my mind, seems to be reaching for the light in calling out the dark. Powerful stuff, Gram.

[gram linski]

loved the idea of throwing the inkwell at the devil and the stain becomes it's own poem, think the dark thing visits most people at some time some don't recognise the call, some fall, some think they have found god, I know you understand, Eilis, thanks as always for your great reviews

[barleygirl]

Your poem leads me to think of how some who have made bad life choices are in the habit of thinking "the devil made me do it" . . . it would seem to be so much easier to get thru a sordid life as this kind of person. I, on the other hand, AM the dark thing that I cannot get away from! *wink! wink!* Great job of exploring our dark gyrations & justifications! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[gram linski]

I am the dark thing and he is me, exploring your dark gyrations in me dreams :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))……...

[Einstein Noodle]

wow ... this one speaks to me personally gram ... those waking dark places one can not quite grasp .. only lay in the turmoil of dark anxiety and fears ... always that sinister whisper "come here" ... and the horror that i might be tempted to ... and just the listening worsens my condition ... this is a gem .. your closing shocks me tho ... i am kind of prudish i guess .. but the strength is compounded in the irony and sarcasm i read in it ... wheew! emotionally exhausting
E.

[Iliana Peters]

I love this. Struck something with me, also quite pleasurable to read aloud..nice rhythm.

[gram linski]

Thanks for the great review, Iliana, but beware, if you read it out loud three times, you will invoke a dark thing,lol

[NotUsinganymore]

Very nice. This paints a great image about facing demons of your past. I enjoyed this a lot.

[gram linski]

glad you enjoyed it, mini nervous break down and too much Henry Miller time

[Ghost writer]

the last two lines seem unnecessary, but the rest of it is really good, and I like the point it makes

[gram linski]

glad you liked it, but the last two lines are the crux of the matter, who is f*****g who ?