MindWraith

I will tell you of a story
one with a beautiful castle
thick curtains, velvety cushions
gilded buttress along its fissured walls
gardens riot with flowers,
mango and pear trees
sickly sweet
The hallways silent,
footsteps muffled,
occasional shrieks

Women white as chalk
faded like ancient oil paintings,
ghost figures frozen in silent scream
that come to life fuming with acid
dripping down their forked tongue,
talons tearing through flesh

Children wilted,
stained in crushed berries.
Eyes hollowed and tiny fists bleeding.
Cheeks long gouged in tear tracks or— talons.
Laughter in fits and fever echo
in their wake of a game,
roses in ashes.

Men of light chained
by their wrists and ankles
that clinch tight along the walls
wrapped subtly around all
that is under their possession
as they contort under its weight
trudge vainly valiant
through the poisons scenting the air
from all the ghouls living
in the beautiful castle..

..with a needle streak of a sun ray
on a single white rose.