The Curse of Orpheus

Steely gray eyes, malicious, unwavering

Noble brow never creasing with doubt

Black hooded face, like a ghost, like a phantom

But the robes cloaking thy body are stout

 

Gnarled wiry fingers like talons

Poised to souls with icy darkness instill

Reaching out, strong and steady for those beating hearts

That the silence and dark long to still

 

As that phantom leaned over your beside

Where you drew your last laborious sighs

I just watched, frozen in pain, as the song left your voice

As the dying light drained from your eyes

 

All at once, you were gone, just a husk, just a shell

Of the laughter and light you once were

Had I vowed to shackle your wrist to mine

Perhaps we would have stayed together!

 

What torture that ghost inflicts on me!

Was it my fault you passed into night?

What if I had tried, to shield you from death?

To give you the last of my fight?

 

With my tears pour out my blood and sweat

If I could, I would pay your back your ransom

In my pain and tears, of blood and of life

I would cease my own heartbeat’s soft thrum

 

So a dagger I take to my hands

Shaking no more with grief or with fear

And I call upon Death once again

For my whole being senses that he’s near

 

And I stand, tall and proud and surefooted

In front of that cruel, hooded shade

And in exchange for you, my own life is given

As I clutch close to my heart that cold blade

 

And Death’s hood is lifted for but a moment

His cold features impassive as stone

No remorse, no regret in those flaming dark eyes

He cares not for my offer to atone

 

In that moment he guides my hand

As my cold body falls down to the floor

As that faithful dagger doth nest in my heart

And I fly to my love’s side once more