~ Afterburner ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
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Palladium
~ Palladium ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Distinctly minted freshly pressed,
Wrapped in velvet as all the rest, but yet,
This silver flier with feathered cap,
He was a most impressive chap.
~
He’d caught my eye whilst out shopping,
When paused too long not intending stopping,
Poised in-front of a bric-a-brac store,
Knowing I had time to see more.
~
More of the coin in front of me.
Embossed with the bust of Mercury,
Winged Messenger of antiquity,
Whose destiny was Thrice lived.
~
With pleasantries completed,
I waited whilst seated,
Her return from shop-window:
So as to show me said coin.
~
Broad-beams above, oak timbers below,
Quiet corners pitted in deep shadow,
Cases cabinets rich honey-glow,
Shelves stretched high chests reached low.
~
Festooned with items and curios,
My eye flittered along every row:
Up and over, along and through,
Bewitched by items old and new.
~
“We called him Lightening,”
She said with a smile, then,
Handed me a cloth containing said dial.
“I’ll leave you a while to decide.”
~
Far-lighter than I had expected,
I wondered at its density:
Electrum or so the label stated,
Weighed like a feather to me.
~
Quietly inside I gently sighed,
For I couldn’t hide my pleasure,
Said item was a treasure whilst I joyous,
To be holding something so precious.
~
Wraps discarded I eagerly gazed,
Amazed by this silvery prize:
Buffed polished and glistening,
Mercurial before my eyes.
~
More medallion than coin per se,
Thicker than a silver dollar,
Heavy to my hand in which it lay,
“It’s magnificent,” I brightly told her.
~
“Indeed it is a very rare piece,”
“Of another we’ve not heard,”
“Also you’ll note blank on one face,”
“Twas never stamped with words.”
~
How apt I thought for an aeronaut,
Whose trickery is communication,
To show true face leaving space,
For grace to place her meditation.
~
“Year?” I asked gazing entranced,
“In what year was this made?”
“Upon reflection a very good question:”
“Totally dependant on grade.”
~
“Electrum is a confusion,”
“A fusion of several parts.”
“But silver must be in profusion,”
“Above 20% grading starts.”
~
“But this coin is an oddity,”
“An unfathomable curiosity,”
“A commodity with perplexity,”
“Evading normal enquiry.”
~
“Oh,” said I now totally surprised,
Sat wide-eyed with wonder: and,
Questions galore galloping afore,
Upon them all I had to ponder!
~
When then above me in the ceiling,
Adding synchronous timely meaning
A bulb flickered blooming bright,
Pouring down intense white-light.
~
As if delighted suddenly ignited,
Mercury’s dash flashed dazzling,
Sizzling streams silver glitterings,
Shone-out their glimmerings.
~
“Wow!” I whispered looking-down,
Where a point of light whizzed around:
Stayed and played and long remained,
Upon the coin’s edge.
~
“Wow!” I startled looking up,
To where she stood holding a cup,
“Tea?” She asked smiling away,
“4pm it’s that time of day.”
~
“Sugar,” she added, “milk or cream?”
“I prefer mine rather saccharine.”
“Both are fine but if you please,”
“Give the bag an extra squeeze?”
~
“Duly noted,” she said with a smile,
Returned attention back to the dial,
“I knew when you entered my emporium,”
“You were one come for electrum.”
~
“It doesn’t shimmer for everyone,”
“Indeed you are the first.”
“The previous owner said it’d choose,”
“Next keeper from this universe.”
~
“What do you mean?” I said blabbering,
Dribbling hot tea on my knee,
Shocked I dropped saucer and spoon:
A tragic melody, a broken tune.
~
With sweet tea rushing and I gushing,
Embarrassment reddened my cheek,
I reached to blot at spots dropped,
Using wrapping-cloth as a sheet.
~
She laughed out-loud and heartedly,
As I sitting uncomfortably,
Looked-up at her sheepishly,
And boldly declared, “oops!”
~
“The previous owner said you’d do that,”
“Tis why it’s wrapped in synthetic tat.”
“He told me that the very same thing,”
“Also happened to happen to him.”
~
“He’s added a twist, a little trickery,”
“A meditation he said just for thee.”
“It required a catalyst: a good cup of tea,”
“To activate his sorcery.”
~
With damp cloth held before my eye,
And she alongside both did spy,
Lettering in wetting where writing read,
Words in Latin that quietly said.
~
‘From far away out of sight,
I’ll come to you in dreams at night,
In flight of birds upon morn’s bright,
As breeze spinning leaves in oaken trees,
I’ll lead you to the light.’
~
She had stood from stooping,
Still smiling thoughtfully,
Whilst I without stopping,
Adored my curiosity.
~
“Research reveals almost nothing at all,”
“Tis a metal not known by man”
“The previous owner said he knew:”
“Twas a meteorite landing-on land.”
~
“Certainly an alloy not of this world,”
“Those are his words and not merely mine.”
“An artefact was what he tentatively said,”
“Arriving from another time.”
~
“It has an atomic number of 47,”
“When normally it’s 46:”
“Not for Electrum but Palladium,”
“Which defines this metal’s mix.”
~
“Rare silvery-white resembling Platinum.”
“But this he said is unknown amalgam.”
“Similar to Electrum in conductivity,”
“A catalyst for super-connectivity.”
~
“If only speaking hypothetically,”
“The previous owner revealed to me:”
“There’s strong possibility it’s alien:”
“Arriving from beyond our Sun.”
~
When then again another flicker,
The bulb above me the sitter,
Grew steadily brighter until it shone,
Gold like the mask of Agamemnon.
~
“Another sign,” she said with rhyme,
“He mentioned there’d be three:”
“Two flickers of light to gently ignite,”
“Activate the disc for thee.”
~*~
When next I looked she was gone,
Instead the smile of another woman,
Whose tearful eyes couldn’t hide,
Her unexpected good surprise.
~
“Dream ticket to the Palladium!”
“First prize!” She cried-out loud,
“I’ll surely go and use them,”
“You’ve all done me proud.”
~
I was left smiling broadly,
Still pondering synchronicity,
When behind the till a lady yelled,
“Next customer if you please!”
~
“Lots of interest in that today,”
“But none were tempted to buy.”
“Its billion-dollar price-tag,”
“They thought were rather high.”
~
“So how will you be paying?”
“Cash, cheque, banker’s draft?”
“Credit-card, gruelling-yards, or word-by-word,”
“Writing with hard-graft?”
~*~
~ Artwork/Composition ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
Underworld Getaway (14)
Chiselled from the mythic tale of Hades and Persephone, Underworld Getaway (14) follows Hermes as he quests at bequest of the Olympian gods return of beloved Persephone and Immortality Potion – an elixir of life quaffed by the gods.
A simple but effective plan hastened Hermes into the Grisly Gardens of Hades Hall whereupon he was unfortunately detected, caught, bound and thrown into dungeons deep underground. Beaten and left close to death Hermes endured a night alone chained in his cell. At dawn’s first light he was presented to Hades whose disturbing rhetoric pre-emptied Persephone’s disturbing appearance. Hades is feeding her immortal flesh to Ambrosia Roses, which are the main ingredient of Immortality Potion and whilst Persephone (spring) is incarcerated in Underworld nothing grows in the lands above Hades to replace the god’s supply. Olympus is in commotion and Hermes in Hades to acquire more potion as a side-reel event to Persephone’s safe return.
Our hero is shocked by sight of Persephone’s plight but can do nothing whilst chained other than watch and listen…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (14) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Hades stooped,
Softly scooped
Scalloped flesh.
~
Blood splattered
Silence shattered,
Piercing screams!
~
“Springtime Persephone,”
“Full o’vitality,”
“Fertile fecund.”
~
“Candy-pink,”
“Forever, I think.”
He said.
~
“Spring’s come”
“Already begun,”
“In Underworld.”
~
Gently placing,
Upon web-lacing
Tender morsel.
~
“Our sample,”
“A piece-of-fleece,”
“Goddess flesh.”
~
“When at rest,”
Said Hades,
“Full o’zest!”
~
“Look! Look!”
“Fantastical notion,”
“Meat-in-motion!”
~
Through slits,
Hermes spied
Flesh alive!
~
“Tis bewitching!”
“Cellular twitching,”
“Rejuvenating tissue!”
~
Evidently amused,
Hades mused,
Quaffed wine.
~
Deep inside
Hermes cried,
Outraged incensed.
~
Heartfelt pain
Shackles strained
Forcibly detained.
~
Ferocious words
Muffled unheard,
He despairing.
~
“Then spiced,”
“Diced tendered,”
“Shredded blended.”
~
“Juiced reduced,”
“Concentrated, cooled,”
“Packed stacked.”
~
“When grated,”
“Rose sated,”
“Accelerated energised!”
~
“Bio-genetics,”
“Complex dynamics,”
“Molecular sorcery.”
~
“All this,”
Said Hades,
“Just for me!”
~
“My wife:”
“Her strife,”
“Extends my life.”
~
“She, deathlessly flows,”
“Perpetually regrows,”
“In Underworld.”
~
“Cherished is she,”
“By me,”
“For eternity.”
~*~
~ Artwork/Composition ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
Underworld Getaway (13)
Underworld Getaway (13) continues reworking the myth of Hades and Persephone using short verse and low word count. Previous chapters precede this post.
Snatched by Hades (Winter) Persephone (Spring) is lost to darkness and nothing grows above ground. Mother Earth is exasperated whilst Mother Demeter is exhausted with a mother’s ceaseless worry. Mount Olympus is in uproar: replacement growth of Ambrosia Roses hasn’t materialised and reserves of Immortality Potion are in short supply: Ambrosia roses are the key ingredient in the elixir of life, which ensures a god’s extended lifespan. At Zeus’s request Hermes set-out questing both Persephone and Immortality Potion and a successful return…
And so it was, our hero Hermes entered Hades undetected but disaster soon struck when his presence was remotely ‘sensed’ by Death. Disorientated by toxin from a devilish-rat Hermes was quickly caught and placed in dungeons beneath Hades Hall. Strung hung cut and bled our hero was mercilessly beaten and left close-to-dead. Meditation relieved his pain and at length lulled him to sleep…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (13) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Early morn’
New-day born
Grizzled grey
~
Hades Hall
Sombre still,
Dark foreboding.
~
Deep beneath
Granite blocks
Locked away.
~
Tightly chained,
Hermes remained,
Pained asleep.
~
Nightmares leak
Seep creep,
Hounding haunting
~
Doggedly stalking
Chasing hastening
Reaching raking!
~
Canines biting
Chewing chastening
Chomping bone!
~
Pain ascending
Darkness descending
End-of-days.
~
Prodded poked
Hermes awoke,
Sweat soaked
~
Quickly hooded
Beaten bloodied,
Forced to kneel.
~
“You’ll squeal!”
“That’s assured!”
Minions roared.
~
Eye-slits
Through which,
Hermes stares
~
Dares glare,
Snipes snarls,
At Hades!
~
Who sits
Sipping wine,
Breakfast time.
~
“Pomegranate seeds,”
Said Hades,
“Medicinal properties.”
~
“An accelerant,”
“Or stimulant,”
“Cellular repair”
~
“A catalyst,”
“For healing,”
“With a twist.”
~
“If I may:”
“A presentation,”
“Small demonstration,”
~
“Fascinating contemplation:”
“Cellular decimation,”
“Restoration recovery.”
~
He paused,
To reflect:
Dramatic effect.
~
“Ambrosia Roses,”
“Immortalise posies,”
“Flesh-fed flowers.”
~
“Flesh-fed bowers,”
“Refine powers,”
“And potency.”
~
“Purity improves,”
“Roses enhanced,”
“Evolved advanced.”
~
“Persephone’s flesh,”
“Is-the-best:”
“Longevity meat.”
~
“Energising treat,”
“Sugar-sweet,”
“Our Persephone.”
~
Parting dark-curtains,
Diffused light,
Horrific sight!
~
Persephone’s plight!
Tethered tied,
Barely alive.
~
Pallid grey,
Diminished lay,
Naked drip-feeding
~
Shallow breathing,
Scalloped wounds,
Dripping blood
~
Body shrivelled
Scar-riddled
Withered wasted
~
“Five pounds,”
“Of flesh,”
“Per night.”
~
“Cut away,”
“Just right,”
“Soft-scooped.”
~
“She wriggles”
“Squiggles wails,”
“Pales significantly.”
~
“For breakfast,”
“Liquid feeds:”
“Pomegranate seeds.”
~
“By day,”
“She restores,”
“Before giving more.”
~
She groaned,
Moaned, sighed,
Tried screaming.
~
“Choker chain,”
Hades explained,
“Choking pain.”
~
“Disruptive commotion”
“Tainted potion!”
“Solution found!”
~*~
~ Photography/Artwork ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
Underworld Getaway (11-12)
Underworld Getaway (11-12) continues my attempt at reworking the myth of Hades and Persephone using whittled verse and restrictive word count. Previous chapters precede this post.
As a consequence of Persephone’s incarceration Winter persists long into springtime and nothing grows. Demeter is beside herself with angst and to make matters worse the gods of Olympus are in commotion as reserves of Immortality Potion are in short supply. The key ingredient Ambrosia Roses haven’t grown and immortality is no longer assured. Hermes is tasked with restoring order for one and all…
Thus far our hero has slipped into Hades and managed to access the grisly gardens of Hades Hall. But disaster struck when his presence was ‘sensed’ by Death – one of four apocalyptic horsemen delivering corpses to gardeners growing Ambrosia Roses in Hades – who gave swift chase. Confused by toxin from a fiendish-rat Hermes sought refuge in the hollow-trunk of a gnarly old tree. But once again he was foiled when enchanted branches bound tightly about him preventing his escape…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (11) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Twilight departed
Night ignited
Darkness flowed
~
Gloom glowed
Thunderheads glowered
Snow-showered
~
Hermes cowered
Enduring hours
Endless pain
~
Again again,
Beaten bruised
Tortured abused
~
Bashed berated
Tormented assaulted
Burnt stung
~
Strung hung
Cut bled,
Close-to-dead
~
Tormentors desist,
Secrets persist
Hermes tight-lipped
~
“Time a’plenty,”
“You’ll reveal,”
“Else squeal!”
~
Choker rammed
Door slammed
Footsteps fade.
~
Silence ensues
Respite solitude
Huddled misery
~
Wounds bleeding
Barely breathing
Hope receding
~
He shivers
Quivers quakes,
Shakes fearfully
~
Overwhelmed exhausted,
He meditates,
Changes states
~
Elevates dissipates
Alleviates suffering
Disbands pain
~
Slowly slowly
He lifts,
Drifts away
~
Carried higher
Upon winds,
Healing wings.
~*~
~ Underworld Getaway (12) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Swarthy clouds
Winter’s shroud
Blizzard howling
~
Wind wailed
Flailed assailed
Whipped raged
~
Sleet lashed
Pierced slashed
Snow splattered
~
Hades nattered
Cursed chattered
Cussed discussed
~
Debated berated,
Their guest,
With Death.
~
Hades paced
Chased thoughts
Sought reason
~
His evening,
Quietly reading,
By fireside
~
Limited edition,
Sought-after publication:
‘Rose Craft’
~
When suddenly!
Disrupted disturbed,
News heard
~
Hermes detected!
Captured arrested
Bound detained
~
Dungeon deep
Fortified keep
Beneath Hades-Hall
~
Hades fumed
Anger consumed
Indignation ire
~
Blood boiled
Evening spoiled,
“Damn Hermes!”
~
Death hypothesised
“Olympus spies!”
“Imminent invasion!”
~
“Quiet fool!”
Hades spat,
“Not that!”
~
“Something more:”
“Whispering trees,”
“Springtide thief!”
~
“Of course!”
“Obviously here,”
“Rescuing Persephone!”
~
“But Hermes,”
“A hero?”
“O please!”
~*~
~ Artwork/Compostion ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
Underworld Getaway (10)
Underworld Getaway is a work-in-progress penned using short verse retelling the tale of Hades and Persephone from the perspective of Hermes. Chapters 1 – 9 precede this episode.
Questing Persephone and Immortality Potion – a sorcerous brew quaffed by the Gods of Olympus to ensure longevity – Hermes has entered Hades but not yet accessed Hades Hall, which stands in a vast garden with flowering rose-beds neatly configured in concentric rings around it. Ambrosia Roses as used in the preparation of Immortality Potion are flourishing in Hades but yet elsewhere with Persephone stolen Spring has failed and reserves of Immortality Potion have diminished. Consequently the gods are anxious and Hermes tasked with stealing elixir from Hades and returning it and Persephone to Olympus…
Hermes moves silently between rose-bushes towards Hades Hall where a wagon-train of corpses is attended by four-horsemen in discussion with a blabbering minion. About them busy bodies off-load dead from carts for gardener’s pushing wheelbarrows. One of the Horsemen, Death, turns away from animated conversation to look-out across the gardens of Hades Hall: it senses something is there…something ‘alive’ moving close-by. Leafless trees whisper the name ‘Hermes’…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (10) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Death walked
Telepathically stalked
Slithered scurried
~
Hermes knew
It scanned,
Underworld’s land
~
He sensed
Its presence
Its gaze.
~
He stilled,
Stalled, stopped,
Dropped kneeling
~
A rat
Running fast
Scampered passed
~
But then,
Another! Others!
Seething swarm!
~
One glanced,
Glared entranced
Charged squealing!
~
Hermes reeling
Striking back
Vicious attack
~
Fateful clout
Rat struck-out,
Swiftly slain.
~
Hermes stricken
Savagely bitten
Escalating pain
~
Muffled screaming
Rats unhearing
Continued streaming.
~
Quick slow
Toxin flowed
Erratic heartbeat
~
Cold sweat
Muscle cramp
Feverishly damp
~
Unexpected confusion
In profusion,
Muddled thinking
~
He focussed,
Applied will:
Medical skill
~
Needle strung
Quickly done
Stitches sown
~
Supressing swelling
Battlefield dressing
Securely tied
~
Silently wincing
Rising glimpsing
Watching Death
~
“Demon manifest,”
“Spawn-made-flesh,”
“Trading immortality?”
~
Lingering longer,
Hermes pondered
Wondered thoughtfully
~
Watched intensely
Noted carefully
Heinous activity.
~
Butchers busied,
Never stopped
Chopping blocks
~
Axes flashing
Bone cracking
Hacking corpses
~
Processing lines
Cadavers refined
Corporeal resource
~
Barrow loads
Body pieces
Spliced diced
~
Porters tread
Thread pathways
Meander avenues
~
Gardener’s wait
Anticipate receipt
Barrowed meat
~
Soiled-beds
Bodies spread
Dug-in deep
~
Chuck-steak fodder
Nutritiously feeding
Ambrosia seedlings!
~
Sudden cry!
Howling nearby!
Ratted out!
~
Hermes seen!
Death screamed,
“I’m coming!”
~
Unprecedented situation
Unplanned deviation,
Self-preservation required!
~
Hermes rustled
Disquieted dis-eased,
Hastened hurriedly
~
Tumbling stumbling
Fumbling feet
Beat retreat
~
Heart-rate sounding
Headache pounding
He ran!
~
Racing pacing
Horsemen chasing
Murderous pursuit!
~
Dead ahead
Branches spread
Diabolical tree
~
Disease riddled,
‘Wormwood Flea’
Possible sanctuary
~
Hollow trunk
Deadwood stunk
“Fortuitous luck!”
~
“Discretion valour,”
“Foolish pride,”
“Quick inside!”
~
“Lifeless tree,”
“Protect me!”
He pleaded
~
But alas!
Conflicting notion!
Sudden motion!
~
Branches grasped!
Violently clasped
Clawed mercilessly!
~
Hermes held
Foiled felled
Yelled-out helplessly!
~*~
Underworld Getaway (9)
Underworld Getaway is a poem in progress: a piece written using restricted verse and word count. Chapters 1 – 8 of my tale reworking the story of Hades/Persephone from the perspective of Hermes – an often forgotten hero in this story – precede this post.
Persephone (Spring personified) is stolen, all hope and annual new-growth is gone. As a consequence reserves of Immortality Potion – a tonic, a sorcery of the gods made from Ambrosia Roses – is running low. To restore order our hero is charged with entering Hades stealing Immortality Potion and returning with it and Persephone to Olympus…
Within perpetual gloom Hermes slipped-away from a corpse-carrying cart conveying him towards his destination inside Hades and passed through a gate unseen by nervous guards abandoning their station to investigate an explosion at the tail end of a wagon-train of dead-bodies. Hermes now finds himself in a huge garden full of flowering roses: but these aren’t ordinary roses they’re Ambrosia Roses used to make Immortality Potion!
Hermes watches and waits to make his next move…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (9) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Fertile fields
Flowering roses
Fervid posies
~
Rose beds
Flourishing vibrancy
Led concentrically
~
Towards afar,
Hades Hall
Standing tall
~
Hermes stared
Readied prepared
Nostrils flared
~
He watched
Waited patiently
Discerning learning
~
Horsemen shout
Workers assemble:
Gardening ensemble
~
Axes forks,
Bloody earth-works:
Digging-in roses.
~
“High grade,”
“Winter’s spill,”
“Fresh still.”
~
“Quality assured,”
Famine paused,
“Fine fertilizer”
~
“Bodies intact,”
“Bleeding in-fact,”
“Still screaming.”
~
Horsemen joke,
Hermes choked,
Porters off-load
~
Groundsman conceded
“Urgently needed,”
“Bedding seedlings”
~
“Fresh rotation,”
“Unique mutation,”
“Ambrosia Rose.”
~
“Engineered flowers,”
“Elevated powers!”
“Enhanced longevity!”
~
“Exciting times,”
“Flavoursome wines,”
“Genetically modified.”
~
“Tell more,”
Said War,
“More detail.”
~
Using stealth
Famine offered
Proffered wealth
~
“500 gold-bits,”
“For snippets,”
“And secrets”
~
“Else death!”
“Your choice,”
Stressed Conquest.
~
Under duress
Death pressed,
Groundsman relented
~
“My pleasure,”
“Making gain,”
“Without pain!”
~
Gardeners bustled
Sound stifled
Voices disrupted
~
Six words,
Softly heard
Sporadic, intermittent
~
“Level nine,”
“You’ll find,”
“Sweet meat.”
~
Somehow spurned
Death turned
Garden gazing
~
Sniffing air,
Something there?
Something alive?
~
He paused
Summoned spies
Secret eyes
~
Snakes slugs
Snails bugs
Creepy-crawlies
~
Plants shrubbery
Remote telemetry
Empathetic telepathy
~
Death scanned
Conversed discussed
Swore cussed
~
Leafless trees
Whispered, “Hermes,”
“Springtide thief!”
~
Death howled!
Vowed retribution:
Trespass violation!
~
Seasoned pro,
Time-to-go,
Hermes fled!
~
Scrambling low
Below rows
Shaded beds
~
Hermes crept
Stepped closer
Towards Death!
~*~
Underworld Getaway (7-8)
Underworld Getaway is a work in progress: an attempt at story writing using restricted verse and word count. Chapters 1 – 6 precede this post.
Chapters 7 and 8 of my poem reworking the story of Hades/Persephone follows Hermes as he moves ever deeper into Hades with the intention of rescuing Persephone and returning to Olympus with her and Ambrosia.
By hiding within a cart-load of corpses Hermes passed through a gateway in Hades outer-wall and continues towards his destination. He waits amongst death anticipating his next move…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (7) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Darkness deepened
Shadow hung
Cloyed clung
~
Hours passed
Rolling-on
Single file
~
Despairing miles
Rutted track
Tailing back
~
Across wilderness
Wasteland, dead
And dying
~
But yet,
Bodies busied
Digging graves
~
The damned,
Eternally canned
Between worlds
~
Slaves helots
Odalisques vassals
Serfs thralls
~
Puppets tools
Devilled fools
Idle hands.
~
At rest
Amidst death
Hermes waited
~
Anticipated, expectant:
Final destination
Hades inner-sanctum
~
Stench clung
Eyes stung
Dampness crept
~
Shocking scenes
Nightmarish dreams
Perpetual shade
~
Endless grey
Endless decay
Endless suffering
~
Brow furrowed
Pitiful sorrow:
Never-ending
~
Wagons halted
Oxen snorted
Guards shouted
~
Quick glance:
One chance,
One opportunity
~
Never sighted
Hermes alighted
Melted away
~*~
~ Underworld Getaway (8) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Hermes crept
Stepped softly
Moved swiftly
~
Into shadow
Below parapets
Battlements, towers
~
Rock-face
Boundary wall
Underworld Hall
~
Hermes spied:
Line-of-sight
Towards torchlight
~
Distant ahead
Horsemen tread
Remonstrating wildly
~
Words unheard
Sounds merge
Riders gesticulating
~
Guards attend
Animated argument
Rapid consent
~
Portcullis opens
Oxen stroll
Wagon’s roll
~
Sudden flash!
Final cart
Blown apart!
~
Blood splatters
Corpses shatter
Remnants airborne!
~
Bodies flying
Bodies lying
Torn twisted
~
Masked head
Sped past
Moving fast!
~
Chaos ensued
Oxen loose
Processional disarray!
~
Guards rush
Wagon-train end
Attend smithereens
~
Hermes smiles
Pockets vial
Pyrotechnic catalyst!
~
Abandoned gate
Hermes hastes!
Surreptitious entry!
~
Between shadows
Within shade
Progress made
~
Open space
Gardened place
Rose-fields abloom!
~*~
Underworld Getaway (5-6)
Setting myself a small challenge of reducing word count and verse size to recount a story resulted in Underworld Getaway. It is a work in progress.
Chapters 5 and 6 continues a mythical tale of rescue and robbery as heroic Hermes embarks upon an intrepid quest journeying into Hades seeking to return with both Persephone and Immortality Potion. He is required by the court of Zeus to restore spring and eternal youth to mother and gods respectively for the plight of winter has beset both and Earth lies dying in the grip of winter whilst nothing grows…
Carefully following an ancient path circumnavigating the bad-lands Hermes arrives at a gateway leading onto Hades. Still hidden at a safe distance from the towering gate he looks-on as crowds busy themselves with dead-bodies. He watches and waits and considers his next move…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (5) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Outer wall
Bustling still
Body bountiful
~
Wicked lands
Outlaws brigands
Hawking corpses
~
Stacked packed
Neatly racked
Blood-stained
~
Minions scurry
Minions worry
Buying merchandise
~
“Damaged dead,”
“Two-bits,”
“Per head”
~
“Screw you!”
“Gimme three!”
“Gimme four!”
~
“No more!”
“Fetid flesh”
“Second best!”
~
“Rotting sinners”
“Cerberus’s dinners!”
“Worthless waste!”
~
When suddenly,
Discussion interrupted.
Watchtowers trumpeted!
~
“Make way!”
“Make haste!”
“Inbound waste!”
~
Whispering sounds
Hooves pound
Thundering closer
~
Spectres hidden
Horses ridden
Galloping hard
~
Four Horsemen
Racing pacing
Hastening fast!
~
Dastardly demons!
Demonic knights!
Apocalyptic blight!
~
Quick succession
Swift procession
Rapidly by
~
Following behind:
Oxen strained,
Wagon train!
~
Bodies slain
Winter’s reign
Corpses galore!
~
Endless cartloads
Ceaseless flow,
Withering woe
~
Hades Door
Panic furore
Guards stumbling
~
Minions fumbling
Corpses tumbling
Voices cursing
~
Outlaws skittering
Crowds scattering
Gateway opening!
~*~
~ Underworld Getaway (6) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Hermes waited,
Anticipated deliberated,
Left roadside
~
Dashed darted
Rushed departed
Ran alongside
~
Climbed outside
Clambered inside
Beside death
~
Putrid flesh
Stinking mess
Weeping seeping
~
Tightly squeezed
Hidden Hermes:
Restricted view
~
Peering through
Body stew,
Glimpses glances
~
Skull-tipped fences
Guards restless
Bloodied avenue
~
Wagons roll
Carts rumble
Oxen trundle
~
Crowds amass
Hoards harass,
Pilfering corpses!
~
Chaos abounds
Wagons surrounded
Highway robbery!
~
Hermes squeezed
Hunkered down
Baying crowd
~
Guards attacking
Looters ransacking
Mercilessly beaten
~
When then
At last!
Trumpets blast!
~
Rumbling sound
Trembling ground
Gateway closing!
~
Snatchers disperse
Hermes hearse,
Successfully through
~
Beyond gates
Darkness waits,
Fear, loathing
~*~
~ Artwork/Photography ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
Underworld Getaway (3-4)
A self-imposed challenge to use reduced word-count and whittled verse led to this attempt at short-story writing. Rough and ready but a first effort and learning-curve the poem is more a work in progress than finished article. Chapters 1 and 2 preceed this post.
The story borrows loosely from the myth of Hades and Persephone to which I’ve added further urgency by way of depleted reserves of ‘Immortality Potion’. Persephone is kidnapped, spring has failed to emerge, nothing has grown to replace what had come before including Ambrosian Roses used to make immortality potion. With the Gods in commotion Olympus has turned to Hermes to resolve their unseasonal dilemma…
~~~
~ Underworld Getaway (3) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Zeus’s court,
Hermes sought:
Hero’s quest.
~
Gaia quaking
Mother aching
Spring forsaken
~
Grief stricken
Tears glisten
Tragic Persephone.
~
Demeter pleaded
Implored entreated
Begged favour
~
“Save her!”
“My daughter,”
“From slaughter”
~
Hermes listened
Spring imprisoned!
Seasonal calamity!
~
He wondered,
Pondered upon
Earth’s plight
~
Winter’s blight
Decimation atrophy
Apocalyptic catastrophe!
~
Without Persephone,
Starlit canopies
Meant nothing.
~
“I’m tormented,”
“I’m tempted,”
“Challenge accepted”
~
“One day”
“To ready,”
“Steady nerves”
~
“Pack reserves,”
“Buckle down”
“Head underground.”
~
“Indeed agreed,”
Zeus decreed.
“Take heed!”
~*~
~ Underworld Getaway (4) ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~
Strategy dissected
Details corrected
Idea perfected
~
Intrepid rejected
Simple plan
Humble man
~
Early morn’
Bitter dawn
Striding on
~
Bootstrap backpack,
Hooded cape
Desolate landscape
~
Winter’s wrath
Lonely path
Dark aftermath
~
Ice-storms
Snow showers
Frigid hours
~
Until arriving
Slipping sliding
Mountain wilderness
~
Whereupon halting
Consulting maps
Choosing tracks
~
Avoiding spies
Evil eyes,
Formidable bad-lands
~
High pass
Ancient path
Silently trespassing
~
Carefully treading
Perilous edging
Fatal fall
~
Ridgeway ended
Pathway descended
Valley floor
~
Shadow played
Shade haunted
Darkness daunted
~
Eerie sounds
Echoed around
Wild wasteland
~
Stealthily stepping
Silently fretting
Getting closer
~
Through haze
He gazed
Upon Hades
~
Outer wall:
Unconquerably tall
Fortified gated
~
Hewn stone
Granite grim
Archway towering
~
Wagons wait
Hell’s Gate
Fully laden
~
Shouts screams
Ghastly scenes
“Dead delivery!”
~
Demonic crowds
Set about
Unloading corpses
~*~
~ Artwork/Composition ~ By ~ Dewin Nefol ~
~*~
