The Beast
Chimera.
The beast stalks me,
Sinking its sharp teeth
First into my joints,
Then setting its evil eyes
On my liver and heart.
Its foul fire-breath devours my flesh
And courses down each nerve,
A burning wick dwindling down to a
Dynamite stick of death.
It came from Lyme to kill me.
My heart like a fleeting pair of feet
Speedsupspeedsupspeedsipspeedsup
But I can’t runawayrunawayrunawayrunaway
And the chimera’s hot breath burns away
Fat and flesh as I
Runrunrunrun –
Silence.
I turn around to find the beast
Dead,
A sword in its belly,
And the beast-slayers walking towards
The sunset –
One wears white lab-coat doctor’s armor,
The other, a beat-up pair of sandals and a halo of Heaven’s light.
Written 3/29/08
© 2008 Nicole Nicholson. All Rights Reserved.
Stumble It!
This is really cool. I especially like the turn at the end.
Have you considered finding a market for speculative (sci-fi/fantasy) poetry? Flashing Swords is very nice publication.
Thanks for posting. Looking forward to the next 100. You can do itdoitdoitdoitdoit! Even without the knight in shimmering white labcoat doctor’s armor [but if you need them, take care of yourself first]. Poetry is a strong remedy for the spirit and soul.
Skinner, aka MysticWino, aka Fringemonkey
Hello MysticWino:
Thanks for the comment about “The Beast”. I haven’t actually considered finding a market for sci-fi/fan poetry, because most of what I write isn’t.
The story behind this poem is this: when I was ten years old, I contracted Lyme Disease. This disease attacks your body in many ways, starting with your joints, then your muscles, then going for your gastrointestinal tract and then your internal organs, namely your liver and heart. Although I was treated and subsequently recovered, this was an experience that I’ll never forget. I felt, at times, weak and helpless – at the mercy of something that, like a dragon or a beast, is pretty powerful.
Anyway, I am glad you like this one. More will definitely be forthcoming.
-Nicole
Oh. Yeah. Lyme disease. That is monstrous stuff. My wife and both her sons survived it. They had a time of it getting the diagnosis. The Chimera was a very apt vehicle for your metaphor, then. Brilliant!
Skinner