#metered
I walked in the catacombs, dusty and webbed.
Medieval, a relic of culture that ebbed.
I stumbled across these sepulchers in line
like soldiers that fell on their frangible spine.
Among these stone coffins, a statue stood tall.
Some cracks on its elbows, still chained to the wall.
The fetters, they rusted on ankle and wrist.
The centuries wrapped it in mildew and mist.
I stared in its eyelids, they're shut in for good.
This sculpture, it creaked; and transfixed I just stood.
It opened its eyes, they were hollow, unfilled;
it groaned through the chamber so scratchy and chilled.
It mumbled in language that only the stones
can fathom the whispers on top of these bones.
Repeating its words in the voice of a mime,
this figurine's words became clearer with time.
Its jaw split to pieces, its breath reeked of clay.
I gasped, for its voice almost chased me away.
I leaned in to listen, I stared at its face:
"Get out! I beseech thee, get out of this place!"
More eager than scared of exploring this room,
I asked this old carving that's guarding this tomb,
"These caskets are chained as you are by their side,
I'm curious Sir, 'bout the secrets you hide!"
"Get out! I beseech thee, get out while you can!"
This statue insisted, but I had a plan.
"I ask you to speak of the treasures you guard,
why drive me away from this funeral yard?"
The statue just crackled and stared at the crypt,
its wrist pulled the chain and some fluid had dripped.
Its marble exterior softened to skin.
"I'm not keeping you out, I was keeping them in!"
The stench of cadavers and dust at the time
grew stronger with tremors that roared through the grime.
I heard all the souls in these coffins, these moans
that echoed so loud in this city of bones.
"This tomb smells your flesh!", cried the statue in dread,
"It needs one alive to watch over the dead
or else, they will rise and the living replace!"
It shattered itself into shards in that space.
A hand grabbed my leg from the quivering ground
and fastened my limbs 'til my ankles were bound.
My skin turned to marble; my veins, they have burned
The corpses, now hushed, to the rut they returned.
Now paralyzed slowly from toe to the neck,
my face is benumbed as I stay in this wreck.
So morbid this fate, as my movement has ebbed.
I stand in the catacombs, dusty and webbed.
Dec 4, 2025
Dec 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM UTC
How bad could this dog’s bite be, thought the courier
As he rang the door’s bell, stood at the barrier
The mosaic is pixelated, I won’t know
Frenzied mutt or skittish stray, ’til we’re toe to toe
Our trade sometimes takes courage, above and beyond
That’s why we’re called male men, so all can correspond
Canine fiends is what I say, not this man’s best friend
Eager to tear my tunic and feast on rear end
Time to find out whether Pompeii’s poet is pompous
No horrendous hound in sight, still best be cautious
On the second ring promptly the master himself
Cracks the door, artsy types are eccentric, what else
Today is a lucky day, hand over the scroll
Save parts of my anatomy my other goal
Fear not, my good man, said the poet, alas no dogue
A bone from his day’s pound of flesh as epilogue
Now in his stead I have only a placid pug
The messenger was now relieved and feeling smug
He then looked up and thought: I avoided peril
Only to see the whole city meet the devil
Up goes the volcano, the joke’s on all of us
To think that for a dog warning I made a fuss
Neither the poet nor the mail man made history
Why the pooch is remembered is a mystery
Jan 7, 2021
Jan 7, 2021 at 8:56 AM UTC
So here you are, another year gone
I won't ask you what the plan is
I remember you telling me years ago
"I don't even buy green bananas"
It seems like your strategy (such as it is)
Has ended up serving you well
You've been so many places, done so many things
And have so many stories to tell
If the idea here is avoid disappointment
The plan falls a little bit short
No life is perfect, things happen to us
(Don't mean to be such a spoilsport)
You raised kids through the sixties I needn't say more
There's no need I should be specific
We got past all that and we all settled down
But we still have a flair for dramatic
You've done really well, I'm so proud of you Mom
Your the best of what this clan is
You set the example, I think that I too
Won't even buy green bananas
rc
Feb 2, 2019
Feb 2, 2019 at 8:56 PM UTC
Your Humble coats of many colours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look alive Poet from whence you started out
To survey the unique position you’re in today
Perhaps find your plate piled high with doubt
A paragon of words abound use as you may
Be not beset with vitriolic gremlins plagued
Would rather stare into space or time t’say
No God given playground, no anyone can play
Rewarding Mothers of Invention thru the day.
~~
Your Regal coat of many colours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are alive and to the Manor born
The moment you discovered words n phrases
To rhyme and rhythm your lot to thrive upon
Your transport vehicle to a thousand places
Embroidered each and every line you write
Fear not a monument rides out mystic phases
Identities hid behind a thousand poet faces
Add colour to your verse by embellished traces
~~~
Your Royal coat of many colours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are alive and to the Kingdom born
The experience you hold with floral phrases
To offer great critique an ego thrives upon
Your golden carriage to a thousand places.
Silver threads embroider ever line you write
You are a magician now of all mystic phrases
You know the secrets hid behind many faces
Over polishes a crown worn off ...any traces .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Philip.
December 5th 2018.
Dec 4, 2018
Dec 4, 2018 at 9:32 PM UTC
You-will-not-lie, -bed-chambers-long,
For I, -am-coming-to-get, YOU!
Clawed-through-the-dirt, -up-the-roots,
I am here, -come-to-get, YOU!
Followed-tree-roots, -that-sweet-smelling-Earth!
Here now! -It's time-to-forget-YOUTH.
*HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
Aha Ha Ha Ha, -The Goblins Attack!!* *
*Grab-you-and-cover-those-murmuring-cries.
Drag-you-away, I have got, YOU!
Hungry-I, watering-mouth-glistening-eyes!
Bundle-of-joy, I have got, YOU!
Jump-down-tunnel-for-you-are-my-prize.
Look-at-you-now, my-sweet-tasty-meat-PIE!
*HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
HALLOWEEN THIS! HALLOWEEN THAT!
Aha Ha Ha Ha, -The Goblins Attack!!*
Addendum: The name appears to be an amalgamation etymologically of roots from Greek, Sanskrit and Sumerian. If, of course, you choose to translate it that way. I assume Plato to be an authority on the Ancient Greek's tendency to combine the words of multiple mythologies sharing similar characters linguistically. The purpose of the hyphenation is to suggest the tempo and speed of the rhyme's cadence.
Kalikantzaroi
'The Demon's of Earth'
Jun 19, 2018
Jun 19, 2018 at 10:09 PM UTC
The Night Ten to the crescent way,
and I'm followin' followin'
Pieces of, -the night or a day,
still followin' and followin'
On the Line yeah the sailor's say,
Luna come, followin' followin'
And ye-e-eah, ye-e-eah, YEAH! -we're watchin' WATCHIN' -watching every day!
The Night Ten to the crescent way,
and I'm followin' followin'
Pieces of, -the night or a day,
still followin' and followin'
On the Line yeah the sailor's say,
Luna come, followin' followin'
AND IT'S A PLACE OUTS-I-I-I-I-DE, HE'S PLAYING; MR. SHADE!
The Night Ten to the crescent way,
and I'm followin' followin'
Pieces of, -the night or a day,
still followin' and followin'
On the Line yeah the sailor's say,
Luna come, followin' followin'
* *AND NO ONE CAN PLAY,
-play like Mr. Shade!* *
Aug 26, 2016
Aug 26, 2016 at 8:35 PM UTC
*There ain't no train to heaven,
...no miracles, no deal,
There ain't no train to heaven,
...that dream it ain't real.*
*Man there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
but when I get there I'll be still.*
Working all these days,
and working all these nights.
All I do is work,
Man that-life-ain't-right!
When I was little,
they said I'd be rich.
Here I am today,
digging one more ******* ditch!
Breaking back and tough,
I'm lost in a bottle...
I'm finally getting outta here, hittin' gas; gone full-throttle!
*Cause there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
but when I get there I'll be still.*
*Woo- there ain't no train to heaven,
...no miracles, no deal,
There ain't no train to heaven,
...that dream it ain't real.*
*Man there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
but when I get there I'll be still.*
Money is a trap,
without it you get stuck.
All I do is work,
looking for that decent buck.
Pocketing a little here,
no, not really, just enough.
Working harder every day,
man this life is rough.
Broken down, feeling bad,
and I'm lost in a bottle...
I'm finally getting outta here, hittin' gas; gone full-throttle!
*There ain't no train to heaven,
...no miracles, no deal,
There ain't no train to heaven,
...that dream it ain't real.*
*Man there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
...there ain't no train to heaven,
but when I get there I'll be still.*
Jul 4, 2016
Jul 4, 2016 at 8:56 AM UTC