Picture It & Write – Keepers

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By Jeffrey Smith

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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17 responses »

  1. Pingback: Praise from Caesar – The Dilettante Edition, May 26th | Being the Memoirs of Helena Hann-Basquiat, Dilettante.

    • **** 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!

  2. 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!

    • 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.

  3. 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

    • 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.

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