Dark Hall

[Hawkman]

A sheet of velum,
pens and brushes idle on the desk,
the knots within
undrawn upon the virgin plain.
No illuminating words to share
to ease or grace another’s pain;
the boars and eagles I would paint
find no avenue to take
in their escape.

The sibilance of silence undisturbed
by Midgard’s hiss
and writhing in his coils,
with his course untracked,
he leaves my page amiss.

Through my window I see no trees
and very little green. Just stone
or brick, capped off with broken slate
that mirrors blueless skies of lowering hate.

In its blinding stare there is no colour,
all is muted, grey and stained by damp.
My hearth is cold, no fire burns
to warm or motivate a chilling core;
my hall is dark. The bard will come no more.

[dafydd manton]

The grace and elegance of that had me breathless. The imagery, particularly the thought of brick and broken slate replacing green, is astoundingly powerful, too. Thanks for that one. I really loved it.

[Bar22do]

Artfully discouraged? I know, Bard, you WILL come more!... for your verse, however dark, is needed, round winged Hawk!
From Midgard's sick depths all the beauty escapes without plan or direction, depression settles but still, your skill and craft mark the path to a reading delight...

Thanks for that - Bar

[Hawkman]

Dafydd, Thank 'ee sir. glad you found it to your taste.

Sweet Bar, Midgard may live in the depths but he turns the world. It is said that if he ever releases his tail the world will end. ;)

You're right, of course, the Bard will return, once the fires are relit and the hall blazes once again with light. The sounds of feasting and of song from the distant past, will echo from the timbers of Heorot, hereafter. Thanks for liking my little dirge :D I aim to please the reader, but pleasing you is always the highest reward for the effort of composition.

Live long and prosper, H

[PrinceMyshkin]

Here again it seems that Poetry is a 2nd or 3rd language you speak, besides your native English. Along with the felicities one finds in every line and image is the confidence one has from the very beginning that this is going somewhere - somewhere worth getting to.

[Hawkman]

Thanks, my Prince, for following my trail of breadcrumbs and I'm glad they led you somewhere you thought worthy of the journey.

Best H

[hillwalker]

Back to your dark ways that serve us so well, Hawk. A really grim piece for a stormy night. I particularly liked the image -

blueless skies of lowering hate

one can almost hear the gargoyles muttering to themselves. Subtle as well as atmospheric.

H

[Hawkman]

Hi hill and thanks for the comment. Glad you liked it, however dark it seems :D

Best, H