TSM 180 — Night Walker

My darling, why did you go
to a place so dark?
I truly need to know.

Empty clangs, doves moan,
heels click, soul marked.
My darling, why did you go?

Night screams, blood flows
yet no answer, my sanity infarct.
I fervently need to know

incantation to transpose
from ghoul back to art.
My darling, why did you go?

Numbers terrify, a village vow
to kill a monster forever parched.
Time gone, I need to know

now as ending flames at my toes,
to death’s repose from grinding march.
He asks, “My darling, why did you go?
To be with you, as you already know.

 

Today’s offering is in villanelle form.  This one is a little dark and murky, a poem of love and madness as those often haunting things tend to be.

Carrie is today’s host for The Sunday Muse.  Thank you, Carrie, for this most evocative image!

39 Comments Add yours

  1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    Very effective!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Sadje!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        You’re welcome

        Liked by 1 person

  2. fireblossom32's avatar fireblossom32 says:

    Very Shocktober-ish!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      :) Thank you, Shay!

      Like

  3. qbit's avatar qbit says:

    ”To be with you, as you already know.” – Ah, yes. that ancient, dark pull.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Q, thank you for understanding.

      Like

  4. Carrie V. H.'s avatar Carrie V. H. says:

    This is chilling and oh so lovely dark Lisa. I like what Shay said, it is Shocktober-ish!!! That ending is perfection!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Carrie, the poem wouldn’t exist without your wonderful choice of prompt image. Thank you for it and for your kind words.

      Like

  5. Beverly Crawford's avatar Beverly Crawford says:

    Careful with that sanity infarct! A great fun read.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Haha! If I felt sane, I’d start to wonder what was going on. Thank you and glad you enjoyed the read.

      Like

  6. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

    The Villanelle! I love writing forms… when time permits. Yours is dark and lovely (love and madness; magnetic poles that flip over, and over). Great one, Jade!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Charley, thank you! I like your way of describing love and madness.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    The repetition of “I need to know” is like its own incantation. I can hear that unhinged voice. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Kerfe!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Sherry Marr's avatar Sherry Marr says:

    Love can be a source of madness at times. So well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Sherry, thank you.

      Like

  9. kaykuala
    a poem of love and madness

    Love this villanelle Jade! It has that typical repetition making dance to a tune.

    Hank

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Hank, thank you :)

      Like

  10. …..making it dance to a….

    Liked by 1 person

  11. wyndolynne's avatar wyndolynne says:

    A black&white horror/love story! Very, very cool.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Many thanks, Wyndolynne.

      Like

  12. hedgewitch's avatar hedgewitch says:

    I love the mood here, ominous and full of dark October nights and their accompanying nightmares. The echo lines are perfect, and that last stanza totally chilling.You leave us feeling All Hallows is certainly coming soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Hedgewitch, so glad you enjoyed the poem. Thank you for the feedback.

      Like

  13. nicely done Lisa in time for Halloween💖

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Cindy, thank you! As the weather gets cooler I begin to turn into a jack o’lantern (or is that jill o’lantern?)

      Like

  14. Truedessa's avatar Truedessa says:

    The use of repetition adds to the haunting question…where did you go?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Truedessa thank you. It’s a messed up situation :(

      Like

  15. Susie Clevenger's avatar Susie Clevenger says:

    Delightful, dark fun…A perfect poem for October

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Susie :)

      Like

  16. writingwhatnots's avatar writingwhatnots says:

    I needed all the lights on to read this – deliciously dark and spine-tingling.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Marion thank you!

      Like

  17. A deep, dark villanelle! Wonderful writing, Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Sara, thank you.

      Like

  18. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen Dehner says:

    The dark, murky villanelle … quite the recipe for a delicious write!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      So glad you enjoyed the entree, Helen :)

      Like

  19. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

    I don’t know why…you know I don’t have much knowledge but Poe came to mind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      lol you know that’s not true, Max. You have plenty of knowledge. There is definitely a very dark vein running through this one. Poe probably wrote a lot of his darkest work coming off of cocaine binges. I wasn’t coming off of a bender but I wasn’t feeling bright and shiny when I wrote this one.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

        Well I’m learning more…
        I think I figured it out…it was the way you repeated that line emphasizing it and driving it home.

        Liked by 1 person

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