Acrostic: Shadows in the Darkness
©February 15th 2022, Olan L. Smith
Storms harken before the dominion of the gods who
Hasten the harbingers of death to descend
All the way down to Hades to frighten the ferryman,
Dooming those who knock on the doors of Hell.
Oracles prophesy of the deep shadows that radiate
Wisdom's curse of too little; gates where soldiers weep,
Solitude is a friend, and prayers for the dead cry.
In demise the unseen shadows follow death into Sheol.
Neither life nor death seep through the coffin walls
Teeming with maggots and worms the devour
Human flesh till only bone and cremains remain,
Enough to leave just a remnant of what was once.
Dare we ask the shadow to speak its mind and voice
All the grievances written with ashes in the vast void.
Round quartz rocks are dropped on our graves,
Kindnesses given in remembrances for ages
Never to come, and wash shadows clean,
Endlessly scrubbing, rinsing dimness clean, orange
Streaks in the gray clay is all that is left, for
Surely, our spirits will lift to the stars!
YOU ARE READING
Poems from the Quill, by Olan L. Smith
Poetry"Poems from the Quill" is where I place current works that don't fall into other collections. It is here you will find obscure poems that range from constraint to free-verse. I began this collection as a contest entry, years ago, for what was then t...
