The Chalice of Decay Song

Inspired by a painting by a friend.

Beneath a decrepitly barren tree canopy

Sat a pure chalice whose brim overflows putrid.

Yet, sacrosanct gilding with sickish gravity

To whom takes single swish bestows Satanic music.

Depriving one of body’s physical essence

With slow and ghastly rotting of earthly flesh

For any who perpetrates humanly  piteous offense

Of making an attempt of drinking for life afresh.

Yet, grim warnings excessively proclaim deter

With fouling stenches and rancid life’s moldering 

That a sensible man should reasonably infer

Without having to ear for the Reaper’s singing.

Nevertheless, I still must constantly convey,

Neither seek or drink from the Chalice of Decay.