A Prayer for the Dead

Image: kootation.com

A Prayer For The Dead

Let us kneel

and bow our heads

as we cast our thoughts

to the enemy we have slain.

He was a brother to us once,

to some a father too,

but his decent to madness

left us no other choice

other than to stake his dark heart

with the silver lance of truth.

Why, we ask,

did his savage, rabidly frothing  jaws

clamp around the pages of

innocent poets,

to tear their souls to shreds?

What purpose was served

other than to fuel

his insanity?

Reviews

[Michael G. Smith]

He is a jealous devil for he cannot have a body like we with fingers that can write free thoughts. Good pen my friend.

[Archangel Gabriel]

Thank you Michael; he was however an Earth bound poet!

[Leslie Philibert]

I like the more moderate, considered words here..a good write !

[Archangel Gabriel]

Thank you Leslie. You are on a read fest by the looks of things.

[Keith]

I began believing that this was about the devil, but I suspect it is really about critics who destroy the poets desire to write. I like it either way, thanks Gab.

[Archangel Gabriel]

Yes more a destructive tyrant rather than a critic but yes. Thank you Keith.

[Dana Alsamsam]

"Why, we ask,
did his savage, rabidly frothing jaws
clamp around the pages of
innocent poets,
to tear their souls to shreds?"

ah this is so beautiful and poignant! i think this is my favorite piece of yours that i've read. absolutely wonderful job portraying the insanity that an artist can be thrown into. your work here is lovely. thanks for sharing!

[Archangel Gabriel]

Thank you Dana you are so very kind.

[poetdoug]

Lots of meditative food for thought. Thank you my friend

[Archangel Gabriel]

My pleasure. Thank you Doug

[TL Boehm]

The mythology behind this - considering if the poem is about Lucifer - or the belief system behind this has caused torment for so many creative souls and bastardized worship for generations. Music is my passion even more so than writing and to think that so many have been misguided when it comes to music because "satan was a worship leader" just torques my shorts. It is my definition of insane. That's a bit off topic I suppose but I think poets have suffered too. That which has been created for good has been twisted because that is what insanity does. Great poem. Made me think.

[Archangel Gabriel]

And insanity is alive and well in WC. Thanks TLB

[ron]

Very good poem. I liked it has truth in its teeth this one does.

[Archangel Gabriel]

Many thanks

[ron]

Is this one about Hitler?

[Archangel Gabriel]

No but I guess it could be Ron

[ron]

This is a good riddle wraped up in a poem.

[Jack...]

Insanity is just a state of mind, twisted to fill the odd needs of the holder. Well done.

[Archangel Gabriel]

Thank you Jack

[Frieda P]

Powerful write Gabriel, I hardly think you can slay insanity, it just takes on another form, good read though!

[Archangel Gabriel]

Thanks Frieda. Has another form emerged?

[Frieda P]

I imagine so, someone keeps slamming my poetry, at this point I don't care anymore, if that's what makes you feel like a man, go for it....!

[Archangel Gabriel]

Do you know who?

[Frieda P]

No, but I'm over it, so it really doesn't matter....