deepundergroundpoetry.com
the poisoned chalice
a girl sat at the window of the university dorm building, gazing
at the night and lost in the intricacies of her existence: her studies,
relationships, the future, & of course, what dress she should wear
to the dance next week. until her eyes were drawn to a figure on the
lawn, a figure wearing a dark cloak, the hood of which was pulled
well over the head so that the face was not illuminated by the lantern
held in the figure’s hand. the hand, with its long, slender fingers and black
painted nails, was clearly a woman’s hand. the girl emitted a startled cry
that drew her dorm mates, some in pajama tops, some in silk robes, others
emerging from the showers dripping & wrapped in multi-colored towels.
when the darkly clad woman saw her curious audience, she spoke. she told
them she delivered a warning which they must heed throughout the years of
their lives. she began her story with her girlhood, a bit younger than they were.
she confessed to falling into the snares of young men, who enticed her with
false intimacies & cheap trinkets, with touches & squeezes & kisses that
delighted & beguiled her. she revealed how, each time, her giddiness was
replaced with anguish & despair. yet she continued to pursue a series of men,
justifying her addiction with the hope that the next one would surely be the
prince who would restore her purity & sanity. each new lover, of course, was
more cruel than the previous. having at last come to her senses, she now carried
this warning to girls like these young students. to refrain from engaging the hairy,
liquored, & brutish menace (‘men’ being the domineering syllable), who would
offer a chalice, golden, radiant, & alluring, but whose contents were poison.
drink…..and die. her final word was: remember, which echoed as the lantern
light faded. soon, the dark figure was lost in the surrounding night.
the girls, recovering from their hypnotic trance, agreed that the woman spoke
true, & they vowed to live with intelligent caution…..unfortunately, in short years,
& in some cases, months, their resolve was destroyed by the camouflaged charms
of the devils they were warned against. they succumbed to the dream of eternal,
perfect love. they grabbed for the dangling carat. they drank from the chalice…
some dreams are unattainable
some poisons are irresistible
Published 10th Feb 2015
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likes 17
reading list entries 4
comments 18
reads 1478
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
Anonymous
10th Feb 2015 11:44pm
ugh. this makes us seem so.....easily moved. i don't deny your words, but i don't like them. good write, though. i love your use of almost prose. good story teller, you are.
10th Feb 2015 11:54pm
11th Feb 2015 00:26am
Some sip...others fall in head first and swim around in it much longer than they should have...excellent ink JohnFeddeler...
11th Feb 2015 2:14am
It's amazing how you've been able to tell this story - one know doubt told by countless mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and older sisters ...
I'd guess you're a very caring father with daughters or protective uncle ...
Either way - great tale.
I'd guess you're a very caring father with daughters or protective uncle ...
Either way - great tale.
11th Feb 2015 2:30am
It doesn't matter how many are warned at a young age. The insatiable need to change a person, and the believed conviction that they are the ones that can do it, seems to me, is seeded in our DNA. Whether you're a man or woman. The crueler one is, the harder the other tries.
At first I felt as though this was going to be a little too simple. The words, perhaps. But in between every line is a little devil waiting for you to SEE it.
Well...that's how I felt. Thanks for the read.
At first I felt as though this was going to be a little too simple. The words, perhaps. But in between every line is a little devil waiting for you to SEE it.
Well...that's how I felt. Thanks for the read.
11th Feb 2015 3:53am
Nicely written, John , and it brings up the question that has always puzzled me. Why do some women always fall for the "bad boy" time and time again as if the mistreatment provides comfort ? Why are the poisons irresistable ?
held in the figure’s hand. the hand, <-- Brill i love how u doubled in meaning*
wow John, your ability to describe in the manner in which you do , to every fucking detail is always a treat and shock value,
and pause for thought!!
I loved this!!!
witchy witch ways indeed!
Love
Zazzles your number one fan!!
wow John, your ability to describe in the manner in which you do , to every fucking detail is always a treat and shock value,
and pause for thought!!
I loved this!!!
witchy witch ways indeed!
Love
Zazzles your number one fan!!
Anonymous
11th Feb 2015 6:36am
Deeeeeplee seaducktive jawnknee poeit
11th Feb 2015 7:16am
You keep one run curiously verse after verse aftrt verse...the poetic pithiness concealed well within the story n settings n characters as usual..esp. in this one, i loved how u created the aged woman's portrayal n her narration kept me hypnotized too..ahh well, the deathful poisoined chalice.
11th Feb 2015 5:05pm
11th Feb 2015 9:01pm
12th Feb 2015 8:36am
13th Feb 2015 11:15pm
exquisite story telling, Mister Feddeler...
... broken wing syndrome & prince charming virus, really a soul killing combination if ever there was one
... broken wing syndrome & prince charming virus, really a soul killing combination if ever there was one
16th Feb 2015 5:19pm
Thy poison glistens from tender lips. The Chalice is brimming with temptation, John. You continue to intrigue with your dark and forewarning tale! I much enjoyed this glimpse of clarity. Respectfully, blue angel
17th Feb 2015 9:10pm
Great story telling John, our mother's try to warn us but we carry on regardless, no doubt we will warn our daughters x
Anonymous
21st Mar 2015 8:59pm
Your words are like liquid gold, they just seem so smooth. Amazing.
17th Jun 2015 7:11am
You've touched a small stream of my affections my cherished one. Kneeling with my head bowed.
