The road

An infinity of plains, barely stained by a lonesome lagoon over there and a group of trees on the other side… and slashed through by an endless snake of grey tar, that twists and coils over its everwet tail. It’s been imprisoned by the wires that somebody settled to its sides, and will never be able to escape.

The road, no one’s land, always waits to be traveled, always waits for somebody to stroke its back and rescue her from her solitude. But the scorching sun of the midday makes it an inhospitable place, only to become sorrowful during the afternoon, and dreary at nights. Nobody stops to ponder on the colours of its dusk, or the thousands of stars that light up when the sun decides to hide out.

We approach the city lights. Behind unfolds the road, with its beauties and its tedium, waiting for someone who finally uncovers the thousands of secrets it still has to offer.

Burning plains

The dry feet stumble

across the scorched earth

and with every step dust rises

turning harder every breath.

Offerings to the clouds and sky

circle the mud huts of the town;

in vain, for the gods refuse to cry

and allow their tears to come down.

And the heat gets stronger

with no relief to be found

not in the shade nor in the dark

and on the old Death is soon bound.

The eldest man finally collapses

and enters fiery Hell on Charon’s boat,

but soon the weather discomforts him

and heads upwards to get his coat.

(A small tribute to Juan Rulfo)

The Girl in the Linen Dress

The golden light of dusk,
fed her eyes, her face and hair,
and turned on fire
the most beautiful linen dress.


Not the sand under her feet,
nor the sea to which she gave warmth,
could keep me from gazing,
at such a wonderful sight.


And she turned on her dance,
the welcomed marine breeze,
to which her sacred white dress kept beat,
channeling my every sense into the deepest bliss.


Yet, my every intent to approach her,
were desperately vain, as she followed
to turn and turn, fading out, growing pale,
turning my sweet princess, into a forgone tale.


(Happy 21st Birthday to me!)

Faces in the Sand

I.

Whether it had been
the shining round Moon,
the eye of light in the starless night
or rather the freezing touch
of the golden gentle sand,
I could not realize
which had found me
softly dragging my feet
in that majestically desert beach.

Desert! Oh Lord, how I wish
the place had truly been so.
For anywhere I looked
there was no one to be seen
neither gently lit by the cold white light
nor casted from the shadows of the darkened sea.

II.

Yet, my mind, my soul and ears
crumbled into agony upon the sound
of voices of despair, crime and lust,
as whips punished with threshing hand.

Cries, oh terrible cries!
but still no dying one – not around.
No one but me and my soul which,
stabbed, bled for these terrible howls.

And the misery finally won,
and I crumbled: my knees,
on fire, yet numb, I couldn’t hold straight
and I collapsed, never finding defeat so bright.

Relief cooled my body with an intense wave,
as ice – which never lacks its thaw. 
For I saw, but couldn’t describe
what laid before my unbelieving eyes. 

III.

From what I before thought was
a gentle coat of beautiful sand,
an endless army of cursed faces emerged
devouring my every step into the Palace of Death.

These figures rhythmically danced, changed
and in their stillness, shared their place,
generously trading an eyeball, a mouth
and voice, in despair to form a face.

Shrieks. Bellows. Laughter caused by sorrow.
Screams and sighs of agony. Misery.
A whole world of torments had found its owners,
which, crumbled, desperately clanged to the sand.

And with every step,
a new mercy cry seemed to take shape
trading its rueful sound of pain
for a voice claiming its wishes in vain.

Heard I did, as one cursed soul,
merely the remnant of a lover’s memory
swore and spat its foul damnations and hopes
proving his life had truly been low.

IV. (A lover’s tale)

“Loved I did, and love was all I knew,
for years and years, my mind drifted aloof
as moon after moon, night after night,
only her voice could bring me back to the light.

Well, she truly was mine, merely for a kiss,
and instantaneous eternity of heavenly bliss,
in which our lips met, and darkness came
for the light we caused, dimmed Heaven’s flame.

Yet, Darkness forgot that single day,
to blind Tragedy’s vengeful eyes,
claimed my love’s shining future
and pushed my heart into everlasting torture”.

The Fall

The shadows crept upon my sheets
and forbade the sweet sleep to close my eyes,
to release my gentle soul from the gloom
and the dark melancholy of those fearful nights.


For eight days I had dwelt
in the majestic manor of my sick friend
settling his angst, his fear of death
and burying his undead sister into a maze.


But that night the whirlwind unset me
and my host's mind broke apart,
as he whispered in silence the secret:
Madalaine's was still a beating heart.


And aghast I fled from the rotten mansion
and saw through the moon and the thunder
how the winds broke through the growing crack
and caused the fall of the House of Usher.


(A small tribute to Edgar Allan Poe)

Leaving

In a crystal palace
or through the cutting wind
that bleeds my lips
I drop a tear.
Everywhere
I’m lonely,
for you are far,
so very cold,
and in the dark.

I miss you,
your warm hands,
and sweet smile,
the silly games
just running around.
Why did you leave?
I see now,
you are underground
but I’m in the dark.

Relentless

Across dark alleys I soar,
through the sharp chill that cracks my wings

and witness always the same:

the lust and crime, the excesses of men

and the cruel, relentless pain.

When the greedy, the criminals

and the corrupt take their last breath

and the city wipes itself of the soot

that stuck to the sweat of its walls,

a new age shall dawn for Men.