The spot on the wall

From the rain that did fall

There came a stain on the wall

A dark spot buried in the board

That struck a deep emotional chord

A vacilating countenance, in wood, you could see

Caused by a change in humidity

A face, that would predict the happenings of the day

One fallen from grace, some would say

A simple darkening in the grain

Which would predict joy or pain

When with a frown it was clad

What would follow was always sad

When the visage appeared enraged

That day, all hell would be engaged

When a smile it displays

It would foretell of better days

From one's own mind it did declare

Whether happieness or despair

Like a Rorschach card it would project

One's soul, that one tries to protect

With brushes and soap we tried to erase

The vestiges of this Mephistophelian face

But with each intrepid try

Darker would become the demonic dye

When to the spot people grew near

From its look they would turn in fear

Because of people's dire dread

The blemish was hidden behind a bed

Still, the curious would steal a glance

That their future they could see, perchance

But in pursuing this Cassandran romance

With their own ghost they would dance

Watching a movie that you know the end

Knowing things from which you can not defend

Of all, the worst terror comes from inside

Like the spot, our fears, we can not, but try to hide

Author's Note

This was an event that happened years ago in my house in Brazil as attested to by my children.
After completing the poem I looked up and found a story by E.V. Lucas called “The face on the wall” written many years ago that bears a strange similarity. There is nothing new under the sun.
Cassandra in Greek mythology was given the gift of prophesy but the inability to alter what would happen or convince others of its validity

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

A very strange poem indeed; perhaps even scary..... when we see something eerie on a wall, we have curiosity, but we also have fear...of what does this mean? So are curiosity may win over exactly what it is because we keep going back to examine it; but is it just our own illusion ? or projection of something sinister....your writing is excellent .
Best, B

[Soren]

Thank you Betty for the review. Yes we project a lot of ourselves into our perceptions and then to make things worse. We confirm these through our actions. Thank you again for your most kind words.

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Soren, really liked the poem!
Best, B

[emmajoygreen]

I wonder = after writing this mysterious poem if you felt better, worse, same or .. what? Are there people like yourself who feel or experience things in their lives that seem extra-ordinary to others who might well accuse the unusual as being silly, melodramatic and so forth Some will see because they can.. look into the movement of prepared wood - its shapes. Or, hear noises, have extreme imagination and think the noises are.. are.. whatever. Have heard a burglar wrapping sports cups in newspaper, stood numb, hidden, waiting for whoever to go. Looking two hours later, when dawn was good and present, the cups were where they should be.! How to explain. Happens. As does your thoughts and this extraordinary tale contained in a well metered and visual poem. Fascinating! . 90

[Soren]

Thank you so much for your most empathetic and openminded review. I do not discount either view the spiritual or scientific, either or both can be right. My feeling after writing is one of completion and ready for the next thought that the muse might wish to bestoe. Thank you again

[willweb]

It's funny but I constantly see faces in places they shouldn't be. In plaster, in floor tiles, I even saw faces in the wall at the vet's office while taking my dog. So your poem is understandable to me. Nice

[Soren]

Thanks Will I think it's pretty common since there is a name for it face pareidolia. A little too strange for a title to the poem, not that that has ever stopped me before. Thanks so much for the read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This is chilling....dancing with our own ghost, seeing a future we may want to run from but can't.
I hate knowing the end of a movie before it is over...and I hate knowing that something in my life will have a bad ending, even if I change the channel.
j.

[Soren]

Thanks for the review Jacob. I appreciate the comment and I also dread the advent of the unavoidable like seeing the ground comming up at you as you fall from a height.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I have read a very similar horror story in a collection on the supernatural some years ago. And there was another about a plot of land which represents the "spot" in your poem. It was a garden plot where nothing grew but it held a strange and morbid fascination to a young boy who fancied that it was alive. It had vaguely vampiric references. The ideas and fears of mankind have always been the same but find different ways of expression through various artists. I enjoyed your creation here.

[Soren]

Thank you Fabian for your visit and review. Yes there seems to be great similarity in humanity, our drives, fears, needs etc. We have various ways of showing these and one is poetry.

[AYVID N]

Dear Soren,
The spot, a manifestation of our fears. I found this poem very relatable in its psychological aspects. We project our deep seated fears onto something, anything and it grows to fill our heads. Or it was just something from the evil one. We'll never know as not everything in the world can be explained. All is illusion....
A very interesting poem, enjoyed immensely! Well done!

[Soren]

Thank you Divya you are so right we do project what is inside us onto things around us. It is a point of view and some see it as an evil one, who knows. Yes everything is from our point of view. Your comments are deeply valued.

[AYVID N]

You're most welcome Soren.