The Demon (Inspired by "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe)

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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I brooded weak and weary
Some demonic cloud the likes of which I’d never seen before
All at once took shape before me, making all my soul implore me
“Flee this evil dark and stormy, quit the room, go out the door!”
Yet it moved so that I could not leave the room, or reach the door
I could but stare and nothing more

* Please note that the dark themes in this submission are only for Halloween "entertainment". I am happy to report that I am no longer feeling this dark. Hooray!

The Demon (Inspired by "The Raven" By Edgar Allen Poe)

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I brooded weak and weary
Some demonic cloud the likes of which I’d never seen before
All at once took shape before me, making all my soul implore me
“Flee this evil dark and stormy, quit the room, go out the door!”
Yet it moved so that I could not leave the room, or reach the door
I could but stare and nothing more

Fearfully I looked into it; one way only to construe it
It had come for me, I knew it. “No,” I heard myself implore
Struggling to speak I sputtered; gripped with cold, my heart so fluttered.
“Tell me you’re a dream,” I muttered, wond’ring what it waited for
“Just a scary dream,” I shuddered, dreading what it waited for
I could but stare and nothing more

Knowingly, it gazed into me, utter blackness seeing through me
Yet somehow the darkness drew me, dragged me deep into its core
Deep inside, perhaps expected, my mortality reflected
So it was that I suspected, that I was to live no more
Surely it had come to claim me and I was to live no more
Frightening silence; nothing more

Slowly in its darkness sinking, as I stood with eyes unblinking
Eerily, I started thinking, that perhaps I would explore
Roads in darkness sadly ending, hearts of loved ones soundly rending
Death by my own hand impending, danger I could not ignore
Fear that I could not avoid it, fear that I could not ignore
“Am I doomed to live no more?”

“Go now! Leave me!” I insisted; though it drew me I resisted
Dark seduction deeply twisted, dark I’d never known before
Fighting hard I grew so weary, and my vision soon so bleary
All this left me feeling dreary, shaking me unto my core
Weakening my constitution, draining me unto my core
“Go away forevermore!”

“I have never, ever wanted manly life of brawn so vaunted,
Doomed to live a life so haunted, like some sick and twisted lore!
’Twas the universe that made me, and to be myself forbade me
And forever to evade me, caused the love I’m dying for,
Caused forever to evade me, O the love I’m dying for!”
The demon hovered; nothing more

“Never did I seek to wander, nor depravity to ponder!
Never did I want for soul and body to conflict at core
Yes, I changed because I had to, and it’s true that I was glad to
Some might say I must be mad to, live my life a man no more
Still, hereafter I’m a woman living as a man no more,
The demon hovered; nothing more

“Are my troubles insufficient, is this punishment deficient
That you bring this dread efficient scaring me unto my core?
Is my suff’ring somehow lacking, that you bring this fear so racking?
Are you here to start attacking ‘til I beg of you no more?
Must you come and torture me until I beg of you no more?”
The demon hovered; nothing more

Soon I trailed off my ranting, ceasing my intense decanting
Sneering at the demon planting seeds of sadness at my core
All was quiet save my breathing, while I shivered wrought and seething
Glaring at the smoky demon floating just inside my door
So infuriating me just hanging there inside my door
Livid silence; nothing more

I was spent and spoke no longer, and I felt my dread grow stronger
As I stood at odds with this dark black demonic cloud of yore
While my mind so weary wandered, precious seconds, minutes squandered
Sitting down while deep I pondered, knowing I could say no more
Still, the smoky demon would not leave and I could say no more
Only silence; nothing more

It was then that I surrendered, and a bid for change I tendered
It was time to lay to rest my former self forevermore
‘Twas this truth so disconcerting, knowledge of it pain averting
Quite a near disaster skirting, near for I could bear no more
To the past I sent my former self for I could bear no more
To its death to haunt no more

Soon I felt my whole self changing, my emotions rearranging
Death for brand new life exchanging, stronger faith in Something More
Bringing out new strength inside me, and perchance new joy betide me
Always waiting there to guide me, deep within was something more
Lurking always in my being, long concealed was something more
Something I’d not seen before

Suddenly, the demon faded; that it would not win persuaded
Dreadful feeling still pervaded, yet the demon was no more
Shakily I sat in wonder, at the spell I’d fallen under
All of my beliefs asunder, reinvented evermore
Staring into empty space now re-imagined evermore
The demon gone to haunt no more

[ Other Works By Mona Lisa ]

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Comments

Very Impressive...

Begs to be read out loud.

Eric

Interesting Take

on The Raven. I'm glad that you ended on an upbeat note. I love the original, but do not wish such emotions on anyone.

SuZie

SuZie

Very nice

Zoe Taylor's picture

Your use mastery of the style would have done the great tortured soul himself proud. Well done :-D

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"Zoe, you are definitely the Queen of Sweetness with these Robin stories!"
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