A Poet's Demons Poem by Birgit Bunzel Linder

A Poet's Demons

Rating: 5.0


we don't know which demon cast
his shadow upon the sleeping poet
the news was brought by a scarecrow
caw-caw, it cried when it perched
coo-coo, the doves of doom echoed

we prepared lentils
to sustain his body
we brought scented fans
to douse him in cedar wood
we lit candles
to shoo away the dark
we hired a nurse
to lift his head to drink
we summoned ghosts
of long lost loves
we prayed prayers
and we sang sacred tunes

we ushered in angels
to wash his feet
we clothed him in clouds
to keep him sanctified

but when he woke
he was shrouded in gloom

we brought in Delilah
to find out the truth
and thus he woke
and firmly spoke:

I am the dark owl of the morning star
I am the petrel of the passage afar
I am a bird of prey that preys
on shadows, doubt, on those who stray

You chase the sun, the moon, your fate
then cleanse yourselves from this day's weight
But I will use my heart for tinder
And write my verse into its cinder

Saturday, January 23, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: depression,poet
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Roseann Shawiak 23 January 2016

Very intense and dark, like Shakespeare, it reminds me of. Imagery, rhythm, description is vivid and alive to my mind. Ingenious and sublime, I especially loved the last verse. Excellent poem, so glad you shared it! RoseAnn

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