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Monster- Not I
For Novel Allen's Savages Kafkaesque Challenge
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/d_642250b563292b35f27461a7.png,f_jpg,fl_progressive,q_auto,w_1024/6686a3b7f90f61001d96c499.jpg)
pay no respects and weep no more for the fallen among us
the beasts of old, of deceptive disguise and serpent lies
whose greed and desire sought to bring you down so low
beyond the eyes, see their disguise, under blood-red skies
driven by want and lust, fuelled by untampered surges
roam they did, through the dirt and the mire, inglorious
bastardised conscience, contemptible duplicitous charmless
stalking without a care, without a thought, without care
dragging the dirt through the sacred of places,
for I was once of their kin, and partook in their evil din
sin, yes, sin and beyond that so much more, poisoned acts
*
stamped with the mark of the one who lies, in wait, twixt
the absurdity and dissonance from despair to repugnancy
no rest, the wicked sit in the mire of their own creation
trapped in the cascading poisoned falls of Ophthalmophobia
as the darkness shrouds the light, I too feel Scrupulosity
what makes monster? the hidden man, the veil of restrained
nightmares are borne of something, deep, dark, delicious
for some, not all, but I, yes, I - remain blemished, all
all can see, taste the bitter acidity, acrid a crudités
wait. the mirror. I remember. The mirror confides I recall
*
Beholding the monsters are to the darkness, shunning light
the light that brings the truth to the fold, for shame
I, of flesh and bone, my past it haunts and stalks me
brittles my heart, my soul, wanders with me at night
reminds me when the abyss of twilight shines above
so too the hauntings remain, despite the shutters
never escaping the bonds of broken trust/promises
look upon thee, behind thy eyes, the monster lies
with a ravishing appetite for destruction and pain
*
they like the idea, the others, of fighting demons
the vile and blackened hearted, of horns and fangs
when creatures are indistinguishable from the ordinary
war is difficult. when the smile of the traitor, is of man
beasts, for their part, are easy - problems are killed off
forgiveness unnecessary. We, the real monsters, the dirt
harder to face, harder to accept, when we turn our backs
on the corrupt and debased.
*
frustrated machinations of our guilt-driven heart, repugnant
repentance, not just a clipboard formality
vanquishing the internal, the cost is great, the truth is blood
blood, pain, fear and suffering.
monsters, of old and fanciful, thrive - not I
not us, the lowest rung, the fallen, those given to seduction
by lust, greed and ecstasy.
*
baring flesh, baring heart, the pumping arteries, exposed tissue
shedding skin, drilling burr holes into the god-damn noise
tempering the storm within - humbling myself before the wronged
accepting the sentence, the justice given
draining the septic tank, cauterizing the infected parts
the truth - a salve for the seared conscience, my own
*
many the fallen who remain the self-venerated harbingers
of their own demise, of shameful acts of unchecked malevolence
both subtle and gratuitous, both deplorable and forgivable
if, their strength was real and not a fallacy
sirens they send to tempt me, stand firm I must
*
solitude is never safe, this I now know
there is no saviour in isolation
life hurts, love more
let it burn-for all to see
*
remember, oh how I do
the pain, the misery
in spite of the lurid joy
*
my teacher, my betrayal
my guide, my sin
*
stripped bare and powerless - the monster, not I
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: This is for Novel Allen's Savages Kafkaesque challenge, which you can find out more about below.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Scottish-Italian poet/writer from Glasgow.
Overflowing in English language torture and word abuse.
"Every man has a sane spot somewhere" R.L Stevenson
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection is now available!
https://paulspoeticprints.etsy.com
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Comments (11)
Wonderfully dark yet illuminating. Loved this one, Paul!
Whoaaa, such a heavy blanket of darkness, it felt like a warm hug to me! I agree with Novel. I now promote you to King Paul Poe Shakespeare! I loved your poem! 🍩🥐
Blinking Nora Paul, brilliant, absolutely savage. Feels like you just sank into it and didn't struggle.
Your writing is getting better with every poem and I have no idea how you manage that. This is spectacular. The power, the rhythm, and the emotions in this make it a masterpiece. Loved it!
Wow!!! 😮 I’m speechless!
You've described the angst o humanity perfectly!
OK DK nailed this with her spot on comments! Truly Biblically epic dive into the mire, Paul.
A poem of epic proportions! And a wonderful display of your wordsmithing prowess!! So many outstanding lines! “so too the hauntings remain, despite the shutters” was one that really captured me
The is quite the descriptive writing of what it means to be human.
Wow, such stunning work. You are a poet’s poet, truly.
Oh wow, Poe. I am blown away by this. Oh, not written by Poe, behold it is Paul. How utterly and beautifully dark and wonderful. I read it twice, yet it begs a few more reads. I so love your work here. I hear the echoes of Kafka saying "well done". Opthalmophobia...icing on the cake new word. Yeah!!!!!!!