As an editor, I make all attempts to release the best work possible. More often than not, that means consulting with the writer/artist to “tweek” their work without altering their original vision. Cult and I have decided to release his newest musing in the original form, (Thorns) as well as the overly edited, (Vengeance) to satisfy the artist as well as the editor’s vision. Please feel free to write us and tell us what you think and which is your preference of poems.
I would also like to thank Cult for showing me that for art to work it should not be “boxed in” where it has to fit a structured scheme of predictability, rhyme, and cadence.
Enjoy,
– Renfield Rasputin
A Clearing in the Forrest (Thorns Deep in the Flesh)
The forest whispers menace
As my footsteps fall within
Careful my approach so as to not awaken
brittle loudly accusing fallen limb
I spy the assembly through a break in the trees
Smoke lazy as it works its way through ancient tree canopy
toward sky turning pitch witnessing the gathering beneath
I creep closer toward flickering flames
Watching crimson robed figures sway
To a beat held tight by spoken rhythm
Cadence ancient and foreign in tongue
Barked with purpose, ageless lust and reverence
A ceremonial dagger glints off moonlight in the cloudless night
To be swiftly plunged deep into the innocent’s form
A shrill scream and the ceremony has begun
A ragged hole where heart once was
The stone dias drips liquid dark with purpose
Quiet I watch
Silent in internal agony
My first born’s life
Ripped and torn
Just as he was taken from me
Robes fall unabashed to dirt marked for this occasion
Chalice filled with smoky fluid
smeared on hungry lustful flesh
Performed without grace
Bestial the acts that follow
Unloving caress
Pounding loin
Orifices brutally abused
Momentarily losing their true meanings
Amidst hyena growls of passion
Throats turn hoarse from climactic vocalization
The lone chant stops
Chilling the breeze that turns gaze upward
Behemoth gnarled limbs bow
Flames unsteady now and unsure of direction
As unannounced I step forth from foliage dense
Concealed shadow allows my presence to be known
As eyes in still quivering post climax torso all turn toward me
Puzzlement the reaction
Quizzical the stare
And only one in attendance knows me by name
Recognition unhinges jaw and
vivid memory
Of recently commited
horrendous
barbaric
ungodly atrocity
Left dead in the gutter
I was
For everyone to see
My breath
My thought
My life
My meaning
Of no longer any use
The fetus ripe ripped from ragged bloody wound
Was taken far away from me
Dripping and blue twas child
untangled from within
A life I would never know outside
of my own rapidly cooling skin
My eyes alight with wickedness
Face and mouth widening as fangs sprout
tearing gum and splitting skin
An internal true form enraged
The shell my body has become
no longer any use to me
For the power that lies within
(It always has)
Bursts forth from long hibernation
Long overdue to be set free
For there shall be hell to pay
On those who dare commit trespass
On the form enveloping
What now…
Possesses every ounce of me
Cult
A Clearing in the Forrest #2 ( Vengeance Approaches Softly)
The forest whispers menace
As my footsteps fall softly within
Careful and steady my approach
No step to snap brittle accusing fallen limb
I spy the assembly
through a break in the trees
Smoke working its way lazily
through ancient tree canopy
The sky turning pitch
witnesses the gathering beneath
I creep closer
toward the tight radius of flames
Crimson robed figures sway
lost in nefarious chant calling a name
A beat held tight by cadence
ancient and foreign in tongue
Barked with purpose and patience
A virtue shown by everyone
The ceremonial dagger glints off moonlight
in the cloudless cool night
Swiftly plunged deeply
Sharp tip lost from sight
A shrill scream
The ceremony has started
A ragged hole
Blood pumping organ departed
The stone dais drips
Liquid dark with purpose
Quiet I watch
Silent in internal agony
My first born’s life
Ripped and torn
Just as he was taken from me
Robes fall unabashed
to dirt marked for just this occasion
Bestial and graceless
the acts that follow
Throats turn hoarse
in climax barren of sorrow
Smoky spilt fluid smeared
Claret on hungry flesh
in brutal copulation
devoid of caress
Amidst hyena growl
The lone chant stops
Last throes of passion
As I slide from the copse
Chilling the breeze that
blows through the clearing
many lost in wonder
thinking prophecy nearing
Puzzlement the reaction
Only one in attendance knows me by name
Left in the gutter for dead
surprise, it’s me…one the same
Recognition unhinges jaw
vivid memory
Of recently committed
horrendous
barbaric
ungodly atrocity
A loving spouse
that played quite the rouse
Eyes wide in shock
Momentarily confused
Unborn fetus safe warm inside
was ripped from me
Borne to sacrificial altar
Surrounded by glee
Dripping and blue twas child
untangled from within
A life I would never know outside
of my own rapidly cooling skin
Muscles tense
As my torso splits in two
Wicked fangs sprout
No longer is it me that you knew
My eyes alight with wickedness
My true form now enraged
Long dormant hibernation over
now tearing free from bone cage
The shell my body has become
no longer any use you see
Shed the skin covering
Everything everyone knows as me
The power lies within
(It always has)
That much is true
For many lifetimes I’ve spent
Searching for one such as you
Darkness in mind
Blackness of soul
I now tear you limb from limb
Removing the easiest way I know how
every ounce of your blasphemous sin
Naked acolytes they scatter
Witness to the bloody matter
The fury has awakened in me
Strewn appendage gore and cloth tatters
Your body lay scattered
A true bestial vengeance
enacted by thee
Cult