Mendax: Poems

Ad Finem

Mendax Oct 2012

Ad Finem

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Guide me safely through the night
and wake me with the morning's light.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
my silent scream, my soul to reap.
Choke and burn me through the night,
I can't escape, too weak to fight.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
to wander blind through darkness deep.
The demons now have bound me tight,
my hollow smile seems not quite...right.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I leave them all behind to weep.
Crimson lines on skin so white,
I will not wake to morning's light.

*Amen.

The first stanza is a common children's prayer. This turned out to be rather darker than I had expected. Title translates as "To End".

Caducus

Mendax Oct 2012

Caducus

Nearer to your heart of holes,
my only hope for solace found;
your trembling love in darkness lay,
by hurt and fear so roughly bound.

For you, there is no golden key,
no single word to heal the scars
that lace your tattered, tarnished soul,
and bid you stay behind the bars.

Your broken beauty cries for me;
I pour my life into the cracks,
in hope you'll bloom and live again
the tension in your heart grow lax.

My dearest love, I pine for you.
But as your psyche has yet to mend,
I wait to whisper words of bliss
and to your troubles gently tend.

The title translates to "Fragile".

captive

Mendax Jul 2013

captive

my heart beats in your chest
held captive in your ribcage.
an apt name, i muse
for where else would one keep such a savage beast
but a cage.

the lies that your lips told

Mendax Jul 2013

the lies that your lips told

Sometimes I feel strong enough to leave
but the light in your eyes blinds me and suddenly I
can't tell the difference between reasons and excuses.
I open my mouth to speak and you exhale, and my words get lost in the fog of your breath
and can't find their way to your ears.
The doubt rests on my chest like the best--or worst--snowfall in mid-January
but my wits run howling like the demon chased from a man possessed
and I kiss the lies that your lips told.

Wisp of mine

Mendax Oct 2012

Wisp of mine

Sweet injustice you do to me;
seared your touch on skin and soul,
only to slip from my shaking hands
and leave your breath on my cheek,
your song in my heart.

— The End —