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Danse Macabre (The Dance of Death)

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Oh streets, your weeping cobbles shine
Against the moonlight, wailing sirens
Beckon those that have succumb
To fill your guttered lines with souls.
Blistered, bloated, wandering lost
Through invalid eyes – flies feast
On stale skin, as deep within
The eruptions pulse to a deathly drum.
One by one they fall in line
Upon swarming sewer drains,
Stacked, like broken branches caught
In storm rains.

Beaked with balm-mint, laudanum, myrrh,
Incur the wagon, loaded deep.
Sleepers that do not stir at the death knell
Behind the red cross – mercy, lord
The miasma has them!
Mortal shuffling through perpetual twilight
Presses the weakness into stone.
Wooden wheels buckle, cracked splinter,
As infested bone crumbles to ash.
Dig the pit wide and deep,
Hide history from its depths.
Forgive, oh mercy, forget.

Ambergris, rose petals, camphor - keep them out!
Delirious horror beneath darkened skies,
Reclaim these alleyways, scorched naked,
Under pitch and flame.
Demon, stare from haunted shadows
Cast upon this wagon's track
For death dances, his buboes black
To spread and spread and spread.
Oh desperate streets, oh wretched curse,
Screaming with abhorrent lust,
Bring out your dead,
Oh mercy, bring out your dead!

 

plaguedeathdiseasedoctorreligionpoem

◄ Unto the Somme

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Comments

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David Blake

Sun 5th May 2013 21:08

This is absolutely brilliant. I think it's fair to say I'm a fan :)

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Simon Austin

Wed 1st May 2013 11:27

Thank you sir, that's very kind of you, I'm glad you're enjoying them - the 'macabre' is right up my street, so there will be plenty more :)
Thanks again
Simon

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Ian Whiteley

Wed 1st May 2013 11:25

Fantastic again! This sort of poetry is right up my street :-) Your use and choice of words is precise and totally appropriate, giving a real beauty to the horrors it portrays. Keep up the good (and prolific) work mate
Ian

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