Malevolent
he crawls along the edge
of the earth enmeshed within a clew
of worms creeps methodically
crimson belly impacted with sludge
the smallest turns to him are
you the prophet we have prayed
for or are you the demon that
cloaks in his shadow
he presses his claws deep into the slough
rises slowly wings expand feathers spread
wide and long tips his beak down ever
so slightly flattens eyes
oh dear little one
i am most certainly the prophet
12 thoughts on "Malevolent"
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Haunting, vivid imagery in the third stanza—I love it!
Holy moly! I’m sure I totally I understand this poem but it gives me chills.
I meant to say I’m NOT sure…
The ending is brilliant. A great piece!
Vivid like an old master painters dreaming, with space for breathing. I echo, great ending.
Thos poem is magnified by its title! Love “deep into the slough”
oh i like this one!
Very visceral!
Yikes! Haunting is right. Shades of what’s to come??
Oof, chilling. I love that the smallest is the one who knows it needs to be asked.
Holy wow!
very effective Wendy! You could do that genre in prose, too