I saw him there under the
treeroots lurking

It was dark thereunder, but he
beckoned darker

                             Still your rotting mouth
                             Shut your eldritch eyes,
                             or everywhere you'll see him

I saw him by night in
my window screaming

He had his owlface on
with eyes like
nectar-filled lamps

                            Turn away your brittle body
                            Draw the covers to your chin
                            and bear the beak in mind

I saw him on Sunday
in the churchyard digging

He laid the bones of my Father
in the wet wormsoil
for marrow cracked and clean

                            Stand still your writhen legs
                            You cast a shadow over him,
                            and he reaches up towards it

I saw him on the strand
in my lover's face seething

He took my lips in his
and breathed into me
her still beating embers

I walked the path back alone,
full of ash

I went to my knees at the altar
and tried to *****

I saw him in the steepled tower
by me standing

He opened his mouth
and whispered the words
I craved to hear

I stood over their graves
and cast no shadow