i am pulled by the heartstrings by something ancient and not quite real
take me in the space between worlds where the nightmares crawl between our eyes and the beyond
and i can see you through the veil as a writhing mass of tongues
always perched among the evergreens and the tea leaves
waiting for that smile to return and release me
from the bonds that held me and mine, you and yours
i am burned in the spotlight of your thousand eyes
curdled in the limp fire of this fading torchlight
and under the ripe moon the night could last an age
something primal inside of me howls for sorrows too long ago and too much forgotten
we carry it with us under the eyes of dead gods
i never thought you would bear the knife yourself.
From the poet:
This poem is part of an ongoing collection titled ‘dear monsters’, which addresses specific figures in mythological, cinematic, literary or video game history with a lens of adoration. Each poem is an ode, a form of verse traditionally reserved for a romantic or conventionally attractive subject. By using this form to address monstrous or villainous figures, this collection subverts the conventions of poetry and shines a new light on its subjects.
The poem ‘to the Trickster God’ is addressed to the elven god Fen’Harel from the Dragon Age video game series. He goes by many names – Solas, Dread Wolf, Fen’Harel – and he plays many roles. Trickster, rebel, sage, commander, lover.
Poetry, by Stephanie Vernon.
Stephanie Vernon is a poet and writer from Geelong, Victoria. She is influenced by her interest in Gothic literature and esoterica. Stephanie has published her work in publications such as WORDLY Magazine, Cordite Poetry Review, and Slinkies Anthology.
MONSTER'S iNK 