Death's Literary Competition

These were written for Achaea. For a competition. Subject was, "Death".


Dawn


As the dreary, thin tendrils of dawn

steal upon the frosted, wintry landscape,

a face is illuminated, long; thin; overdrawn.

His heaving chest, his half-beaten heart, about to capitulate.


Pulling aside the folds of his black cotton cloak,

his stiff fingers grasp at the locket hidden within.

Alas, the hypothermia was too large, too heavy to bear.

His decadent body gave way and he collapse therein.


Barely catching breath, his fingers struggled.

The bony, frozen appendages shivering and blue, prised the locket apart.

His failing eyes searched the cold metal's surface,

resting upon the visage of a woman of such ambrosiac beauty, it warmed his heart.


Tears flowed freely, tears that sapped precious energy.

Yet, they invigorated as they did enervate.

He knew then he must pass, alone and desolate.

Never to once more gaze upon her, whose soul was pure and celibate.


With this final act, his mind, his soul was appeased.

Clutching the gold to his chest, he whispered, “Farewell and good-bye”.

He laid down in the snow and spread his arms out wide.

Breathed in the break of dawn,

and began to die.



His Caress


When the night falls,

the cold, breathless rattle of the wind

and the thin, pale fingers of the trees

rake and scrape across the flesh, chillingly.


It is then when a hand steals silently,

stealthily over the land, searching.

Ever searching for souls of those whose time

are up.


The ever eager ebon fingers yearn.

They yearn for the souls of men.

Souls which are crushed in the firm, vice-grip of Lord Thoth.

Souls which shall never see the light of day,

forevermore.


He, who is impartial yet unyielding,

natural.

None shall he oversee and none shall from his grasp escape.

Not one evil Mhaldorian nor a foolish Shallamite.


For every Beginning,

there must be an End.

For every Life,

there must be Death.



Twisted Criminal


These dank, desolate streets,

filthy with grime.

These dark, dirty alleyways,

rampant with crime.


A beggar girl,

slain, immorally defied.

The depraved,

which society denied.


A philanthropist,

abducted and desecrated.

His abductor,

disillusioned and dissected.


A plump lamb,

brought to the slaughter.

Butchered by man,

to feed joyous laughter.


An innocent maid,

her life taken.

The smitten master,

horribly shaken.


A hindered handicap,

his throat viciously slit.

The murderer,

whom many more shall meet.


Crimes against humanity,

Crimes against morality.


The Black City.

Unnatural death.