By Jeffrey Smith
_______
The wind howls a song of lamentation,
stirring the sea into a rage of
lurid poison.
Phantoms of the dead keepers
rise
breaking their seaweed shackles
they haul their heavy souls
up the steps
to the door.
The Lighthouse Keeper
hears a sound more terrifying than
the raging storm.
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**** I am honoured to be mentioned this week on Helena’s reading list – be sure to check it out and other mighty blogs. ***
I am glad you enjoyed the poem – squeezed in, between a coffee and the allotment!
Uh oh! Something wicked this way comes!
I hope you’re not there too Joe, we’d miss you and your writing!
There’s a song I know by an obscure Canadian band called Klaatu that says that the Lighthouse Keeper is the loneliest of creatures in the universe. Apparently they’re not safe, either. Helena was right, this one is spooky — I pictured the dead pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean rising from the deep.
There are a fair few myths and legends surrounding lighthouse keepers and terrible fates. Not quite like this though. I am sure it is lonely.
Not many are manned now over here.
I hadn’t even thought of the pirates of the Caribbean fortunately…. With Captain Jack Sparrow -swoon- in my head, I doubt the poem would have been written.
Thanks for following Helena’s recommended reads.
Hoping to make it back to that post later. 1 More place to be today, then I can rest and relax!
love the seaweed shackles! very cool…
Thanks Miriam, I think that’s one of the few lines that fell out of my head… They were to be chained and then I thought more likely bound by the undersea world. Glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
Ooo, loved “breaking their seaweed shackles”. What a great description! Something terrible comes for the lighthouse keeper. I wonder what it is? Thanks for contributing this week, Neens. 🙂
– Ermisenda
You’re welcome, a bit of alliteration always adds a layer to the description! Thanks for the prompt and post.
This reminded me of the pirates too. Nice imagery! I like the line about stirring the sea into lurid poison.
Thanks Anne. I searched for the right way to describe the entrapment of the sea.
I’ve nearly drowned in a kelp bed. “[Wrapped] me up like a struggling fish in the tentacles of an anemone,” was how I described it, so I’d say that “seaweed shackles” is quite accurate.
Stirring the sea into a rage of lurid poison – well penned …oops I didn’t see what Anne had written – great minds it seems 🙂
It’s fine to like the same parts Jenny, thanks for commenting.
The language in this poem is important – the words I use have to hold the same strength as the story my poem tells.
Lovely creepy writing! Agree that “seaweed shackles” is an awesome chilling phrase.
Thanks Maggie, glad it chilled.