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From: will.dockery@gmail.com (W.Dockery)
Newsgroups: alt.arts.poetry.comments,rec.arts.poems
Subject: Re: Black Islands / Will Dockery
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:20:10 +0000
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Faraway Star wrote:

> Will Dockery wrote:
>>
>> Black Islands
>>
>> Time stood still on the Black Islands
>> fog swirled around the castle
>> surrounded by darkness and slime.
>>
>> Across the swamp from the castle
>> was the hillside it overlooks
>> green trees, mushrooms, peacocks.
>>
>> The forest beyond was saturated
>> with the dampness of reptilian eyes
>> the wind moaned in the tall oaks.
>>
>> A lonely peddler made his humble way
>> silently along a narrow muddy road
>> the cloudy sky gurgled and roared.
>>
>> Up in the tower glowed a candle light
>> as beggars in the street below cried for food
>> to take home to starving families.
>>
>> Deep below the ground were shadows
>> constantly at sleep and waiting
>> for the signals of Zhuam.
>>
>> Derebro stood in his tower silently
>> watching the green hillside soaking
>> as the rain tumbles down in a flood.
>>
>> His stony black eyes cut the space
>> his ebony man fell across his shoulders
>> wrinkled grey skin hid the pain.
>>
>> The hillsides once glowed in anger
>> before that they glowed in bright peace
>> that ended with pain, screams and blood.
>>
>> Hidden in a shack somewhere was Zverkov
>> silently waiting to reclaim what was his
>> his pain was generated by love.
>>
>> His babies were dead
>> his wife even worse
>> the henchmen of Derebro struck hard.
>>
>> His memories twisted back to a time
>> when his family toiled on the hillsides.
>>
>> It was a cold life even then
>> but it was the life that he loved.
>>
>> Drawing slowly closer to a moonlit shore
>> across the rolling black waters
>> was a silent stealthy galley on the sea.
>>
>> A lone stranger stood on the decks
>> holding his bloodstained blade
>> his face like stone under the silver moon.
>>
>> He was acting like a judge
>> and he was sailing to the trial
>> unnaturally resigned to his vengeful doom.
>>
>> The silence he preserved by his thoughts
>> was shattered only by the wash of the waves
>> as the cloudy sky rolled in the night.
>>
>> Streetlamps flickered in the cold village
>> left over snow lingers sluggishly
>> they dance like candles at a funeral.
>>
>> Zverkov in a grey cloak waited at the docks
>> for the stranger to arrive
>> for the darkness to be lifted
>> for blood to splash on the walls.
>>
>> Zverkov lay on the docks in a pool of blood
>> with several stab wounds in the back
>> he died a quick unexpected death.
>>
>> Derebro rode away in a coach
>> chuckling as he wiped his blade
>> as the chilly wind blew back his hair.
>>
>> Back to his castle maddened horse galloped
>> down narrow muddy rods
>> a feeling of closure now in his heart.
>>
>> The tower stood against the silvery moon
>> and the rolling splashing grey sky.
>>
>> He sent down to the dungeon for Liza
>> to tell her the fate of her husband
>> and to occupy the rest of his night.
>>
>> While below the earth was a trembling
>> called forth by a man on the shore
>> a man in command of vengeful shadows.
>>
>> Demented voiced demon with a voice like silver ice
>> Zhaum stood vengefully burning with rage
>> calling shadows to awaken with laughter.
>>
>> The swamp throbbed now like a heartbeat
>> the hillside bloomed with poison flowers
>> slimy creatures began to feed on them.
>>
>> The forest was alive with screams
>> bats circled in the sky
>> the wind howled with blowing rain.
>>
>> Inside the tower Liza lay ravished
>> victim of Derebro's fierce sodomy
>> the candles beside the bed had gone dark.
>>
>> Derebro stood on the ridge
>> looking down at the man on the shore
>> his eyes were afire as he awaited his trial.
>>
>> -Will Dockery / September 1977
>
> Another good read of a timeless favorite...

Thanks again for the nod, Zod.