I Am Not At All

I am an ensanguined cloud, cracked with pink lightning erupting with thunderous aplomb.
I am the blood red dream you thought had finally ended.
I am the cloying scent of incense and infection sleeping beneath a bloody bandage.
I am battle, strife, a collection of old bones to set upon your shelf.
I am the wind whispering lies by firelight
I am the steel in your hand as your strength ebbs.
I am deception, intrigue, and the desire to do harm.
I am the oil boiling above the gates
I am the boot leather your sons and daughters ate during the siege.
I am the rats you had prayed you might find.
I am the unforgiving crescent moon that mocks you when you sleep.
I am the fool.
I am the king.
I am the dungeons where you ate your last meal.
I am the gutters through which your blood ran when they had your head.
I am the gelid rain that drenched the buzzing crowd of onlookers.
I am you.
I am evil.
I am good.
I am what you make me.
I am that which hides in the realm beyond the shadows.
I am a bloated stomach, sick with hunger.
I am a vomitous noble, sick with drink.
I am his upturned drinking horn.
I am the puddle of mead.
I am the villain.
I am the hero.
I am words writ in red ink and sealed with black wax.
I am the waning thunderstorms of brooding introspection.
I am here.
I am gone.
I am a world unto myself for I am all that man seeks.
I am all that man loves and fears.
I am heart.
I am hate.
I am keen guile.
I am gone from this mind and looking beyond a sea of tangible grief.
I am a sea of tangible grief except that I am not at all.
I am not at all.

a reply to: CagliostroTheGreat

Damn Bro! That was another great one...

a reply to: Quantum12

Thanks man! Glad you take the time to read!

You sound like a very NON boring life. Sweet.

a reply to: ClovenSky

While the latter is actually quite true, the poem itself has nothing to do with me. Sometimes words just hit me and I start writing without really thinking about it and before I know it I've already hit "post".

Thanks for reading.

a reply to: CagliostroTheGreat

I am the same say at times!

I LOVE the short story forum as it never disappoints me.

Case in point, your poem...

Thanks, it makes one think!

a reply to: TNMockingbird

I love this forum as well. Its seems kinda slow nowadays. I remember just a year ago there was a lot of new work being posted all the time. I sometimes had trouble keeping up with my reading. Is this just me?

At any rate, I'm pleased you enjoyed this piece. I wasn't sure how it would be received. It was, after all, somewhat impromptu.

I find that so many stories and poems seem to write themselves. It's like we may start off with something and then the story or poem has a mind of its own.

Your stuff is quite powerful!

a reply to: Night Star

That is certainly the case for me. I usually start writing (short stories and novels/ novellas) with a relatively concrete layout. I know what I want to happen, what characters are involved and what the consequences will be.

Poetry doesn't always unfold that way for me. I usually have a fleeting idea, then I just start writing. What I end up with OS sometimes good but usually bad. Sometimes I just write something and post it without giving it much thought.

I thank you for taking the time to read.

a reply to: CagliostroTheGreat

Great work , for a moment I've lived every line in my entire life ..

a reply to: 0bserver1

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

a reply to: CagliostroTheGreat
That was really good my friend! Really good indeed. I shall write again one day. Two lines of a poem popped into my head when I awoke this morn. That is all
enjoy this day, much peace to you. -Nat

a reply to: natalia

Thank you, Nat. I'm glad you enjoyed my work.