Inside the Worm
Inside the Worm
By Bonnie Mutchler
Copyright 2010 by Bonnie Mutchler
Cover design copyright Joleene Naylor 2009. All rights reserved.
Cover Fonts by Larabie Fonts (https://www.larabiefonts.com/ )
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Blood
"Sweet passion, wash away the blood,
But not your hands of me.
Whatever deed the dagger's done
Must now be buried deep,
And in the silence of the dark
The secret we shall keep."
But guilt can't slumber easily,
Nor ever rest in peace;
His sinful heart read meanings sly
In every word she'd speak,
He saw betrayal in each glance,
Each gesture was unique,
As though some mocking stranger'd come
To dwell there in her place.
And what once burned as fiery love
Turned now to icy hate.
Then late one night, her breathing quiet,
In innocence she slept,
He drew the dagger from his side
And plunged it to its depths.
The moment o'er, he looked in horror
At what his guilt had wrought,
His own true love dead by his hand,
Drenched in her own red blood.
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Dalya
Dalya's in the garden
And the sun is staying late,
Hanging in the evening sky,
Lighting up the gate.
Shining on the stone path,
Reflecting off the flowers,
Casting rip'ling shadows
Across the towers.
Waiting for her lover,
Wondering why he's late.
What is it about this night
That makes her breath bate?
There is something in the air,
Lurking somewhere out of sight.
There's a shiver in the shade,
Something isn't right.
Dalya's in the garden,
Golden hair spread in the mud,
Lying on the cold stone path
In a pool of blood.
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Did I Hear You Call
Did I hear you call upon the night wind
As it ripped across the angry, tattered cliffs?
And did I hear my name, once softly spoken,
Now shrieked insanely from your frozen lips?
Did you stare at me with eyes like flaming coals,
Red eyes as fierce and fiery as the pit,
That stripped away the flesh and burned the soul
As though it were mounted on a spit?
And slowly did you turn it in your pleasure,
For with each turn the wound gaped even larger.
Was your laughter raw and coarse, harshly grating,
As my limp form lay upon your bloody charger?
Was it all you hoped revenge could ever be?
Did my weakness feed your never-ending greed,
Your lust for power, your insecurity?
Did my consumption finally set you free?
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Ember
Her hair shone like a halo in the crowd;
He slowed his rapid pace and sought her out.
But darkened eyes revealed her frozen heart;
He turned away intending to depart.
Cold, bony fingers clutched him in a grip
Like steel and forced him tight against her lips
Of ice and snow, pale winter's kiss,
And held him firm 'tween agony and bliss.
His senses reeled and there was nothing left,
Just emptiness, a hollow soul bereft
Of every shred of hope or happiness,
Of every dream that mortal dare possess.
And he was lost, no chance of a return,
No future save that of a heart that burns
With the ice of its own deadly passion
To the stony silence of annihilation.
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Fair Michael, Where Are You Going Today?
"Fair Michael, where are you going today?"
"Away, away, away."
"Fair Michael, where are you going today?"
"A wild beast to slay."
His silver sword was long and sharp;
His steely eyes were cold and dark;
His youthful heart was set and hard
As he turned his head away.
"My young son, where are you going today?"
"A-hunting I did say!"
"My young son, where are you going today?"
"To Dannig Forest Glade.
"Tis well you know the hate I keep,
The passion one must bury deep,
Though still it robs me of my sleep
When I look upon her face."
"I beg you, son, do not go today."
"Let go my arm, I pray."
"I beg you, son, do not go today."
"Tis time that he should pay.
Like the brute he is, let him die
In blood, the knowledge in his eye,
That the fatal thrust of sword was mine
To revenge my love this day."
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Harry, Harry Humbolt
Harry, Harry Humbolt,
With your eyes of green,
Is your heart so dark and cold?
Is your soul so mean?
Harry, Harry Humbolt,
Haven't got a care.
Though you are a wicked man,
Still your face is fair.
Harry, Harry Humbolt,
Evil as can be,
You never held a candle,
Not to bad old me.
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I am the Warrior
"I am the warrior," said the maid.
"The one for whom ye all have prayed.
Sent from the godshead locked in Gillam,
Far beyond the stars of Siram,
And there's none who stood against me
Who ever knew a victory."
So they led her to Gamorkuh
By the shores of Tanzuhnora,
There to battle, on the white sand,
The great wizard of the northland.
He swooped down on his eagle,
Head uplifted, looking regal,
With the scepter of the star band
Held firmly in his withered hand.
His shrill laughter was all knowing,
His orange beard and mustache flowing,
His pale eyes, oblique and misty,
Held a million mysteries.
But he knew what he was doing,
While the people all were ruing
Putting faith upon the maiden,
Their doubting hearts heavy laden,
He drew forth his mighty war mace,
A look of scorn upon his face.
But the maiden raised her hammer
As they met with clash of thunder,
And the earth was all a-tremble
At the fierceness of the battle.
Though the wizard stood, unyielding,
Still the hammer she was wielding,
Carved from the blessed stone of Kive,
Seemed at her touch to come alive.
Death was in the cards of Omen.
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Death, the keeper of the dungeon
And it's jaws were dark and gaping.
Fell the wizard, as though sleeping,
In Death's arms, so all enfolding,
But the maiden still was holding
Her mighty hammer and shield;
Alone stood she upon the field.
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In the Dark and the Dead of the Place
In the dark and the dead of the place
A gnarled hand draws back the lace
And from the gloom a withered face
Scans the leaves of time.
There humanity is just a blur,
Like dead leaves dancing in a whir,
Without a backward glance at her
Dark eyes beneath the grime.
For though her youth was frail and brief,
She nursed the world through all its grief,
Through thirst and famine, disbelief,
Through hatred and war.
Now she stands forgotten in her age
And stifles her indignant rage,
As mankind turns from good to waste
All she's suffered for.
It takes so long to remember now
The pure mountain stream, the tender bough,
The days long gone when mankind vowed
To take over for her.
She trusted him, though it proved unwise
And it all crashed down before her eyes.
With relish man sought her demise,
"Death to Mother Nature!"
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Inside The Worm
"Illusions, dreams,
And all that seems
Above reality
Are yours if you go
To the land of snow
Beyond the outmost sea,
For there you'll see,
Lying on the beach,
The Worm of Palendee,
Black with the grime
Of ancient times,
Looking o'er the storm tossed sea.
There inside
It's leathery hide
Lies celestial paradise;
One sees a world
Like God never hurled
Through the worm's unblinking eyes."
The tale's been told
Since days of old,
In bars where sailors dwell.
'Til one young tar
Listened to the yarn
And was captured by its spell.
He sailed away
On a sunny day,
Far from familiar shores,
To seas beyond
The edge of dawn
And north through the arctic doors.
The pale sun shone
On winter's bones,
Bleak and stark against the skies;
The dark seas rolled,
And the wind was cold
Blowing off the peaks of ice.
For forty days
They sailed that way,
With the riggings frozen white.
The bowsprit cracked,
The sails all snapped,
And the deck was a sheet of ice.
December came,
With freezing rain,
When the island came in sight.
As smooth as cream
With a worm of green
Stretching out from side to side.
They docked next day
In the icy bay
And the young man went ashore.
The wind blew wild
Like a screaming child
And the ocean frothed and roared.
The sailors cursed
As the storm grew worse
So they headed out to sea;
They left him alone
In that land of snow
With the worm upon the beach.
He stood a while,
The wind grew mild
And the sun began to show.
His eyes just stared
At the blinding glare
Coming off the pure white snow.
Then he felt a grip
From the darkest pit,
But the terror held him firm,
For there was no doubt
He was looking out
From the inside of the worm.
Varied colors swirled
In a maddening whirl
While demons laughed and pranced,
And every fear
That he held dear
Joined in that dreadful dance.
With fangs and claws,
Their long, thin jaws
Oozed spittle mixed with blood,
While eyes like coals
Burned through his soul;
Sweat drenched him like a flood.
Then darkness fell,
With the breath of hell
Blowing hot against his face,
And every terror
That raised a hair
Pressed on him in that space.
As feelings rose
His muscles froze;
His parched eyes strained and stung.
The acrid stench
Made his nostrils flinch
As it seared into his lungs.
The fire spit
From a yawning pit
That opened at his feet.
The light was dim
'Round the crumbling rim
As it melted in the heat.
His footing gone,
He pitched headlong
Into that flaming abyss.
He heard his scream,
Like an ancient dream,
Through the fire's impatient hiss.
He closed his eyes;
The lids stuck tight;
His lashes singed and curled.
The smell of flesh
Was raw and fresh
As through the blaze he hurled.
His sense's cracked;
His mind went black,
And he knew all hope was vain,
For there was no end
And no defense
"Ginst the visions of his brain.
In monster form
His thoughts were born,
Wearing robes of flowing lights
With open palms
They offered alms
As they faded in the night.
Next, in their place,
Came a pallid face
With wild, haunting eyes
And in their depths
He saw the best
Of the world he'd left behind.
A stabbing pain
Shot through his brain;
It split him right in half.
He could see his heart
As it burst apart,
Flying by like useless chaff.
There was nothing more
But a senseless roar
As he rode on numbing waves
That swept along,
With a mocking song,
To the horror of his grave.
The light was pale
In this endless hell,
For there was no paradise,
Just death and fear
In that region drear
Behind the Great worm's eyes.
The tale's been told
Since days of old
Of the Worm of Palandee,
Black with the grime
Of ancient times,
Looking o'er the storm tossed sea.
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Just A Part Of War
Listen to the pretty maid,
Listen to her story.
Remember her pretty face?
Now it's torn and gory.
See the soldiers march away,
The young one is so sorry.
It's just a part of war, they say,
Mustn't let it worry.
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Keep It Light
Keep it light, that's right, that's right.
Keep it light, my lady.
Hasn't been a single night
You haven't drove me crazy.
If your hair weren't red and gold,
If you weren't so lazy
I'd have had you for a wife
Before the month of May-zy.
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Lament From The Pit
O' Lord, the devil is deep in me;
The evil is strong and I am weak.
Look into the darkness, what do I see?
Only the blackness that presses on me.
Where is the power that lies beyond?
I reach through the void, but it is gone.
There's nothing to cling to, nothing to hold,
Only the emptiness, icy and cold.
Was there a moment it might have changed?
Was there a hope I did not disdain?
Is there no pity for wretches like me,
Chained in this pit for eternity?
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Lindy's Lover
Lindy's at the window,
And her candle's burning bright,
Waiting for her lover
On a cold and windy night.
List'ning for the hoof beats
Pounding on the road below,
Face flushed with excitement
In the fire's golden glow
Is it close to midnight?
For he promised he'd be there
Though the watch at Fallow
Be a-spying everywhere.
Still, he's very clever
And his horse is fast and light.
Though they gamely chase him,
He'll escape again tonight.
He may be a robber
And a scoundrel, I declare,
Still he's very dashing
And his looks are more than fair.
Lindy's at the window
And her candle's burning low,
List'ning for her lover
Riding on the road below.
Can she hear his hoof beats?
They're a-ham'ring like her heart,
Somewhere in the distance,
Ringing loudly in the dark.
Leaping from the saddle
As she opens wide the door.
Snuffing out the candle
They're just shadows on the floor.
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Man of Might
Man of might,
With muscles bulging,
Dare I look into your eye?
Passion burning,