Pursued By Shadow

Back in October I shared a piece called ‘Strange Library’, based on an unusual dream that I had.

I had a dream last night which wasn’t strange as such, but was fast-moving and stayed with me, so I’ve tried turning it into something which sort of resembles a poem.

Wooden floor creaks as a hooded figure paces,
then takes a place out of my sightline.
I brace, feeling the rope tight against skin
a sudden crack, and the floor gives way.

I fall, the rope disappears and I’m sinking,
trying to hold my breath, as water
surrounds me. I hate the feel of it in my ears.
I see a shadow and a hand reaches down.

I’m pulled out and up onto a horse,
it appears to be ridden by Leonardo,
he of the heroic band of turtles,
rather than the famed, revered artist.

I don’t have time to take it in,
this bizarre sequence, as it isn’t long
and the horse bucks, throwing me
forward and onward, onto a bridge.

I feel the presence just behind me
of heavy, dark 20-year-old shadows.
The ground starts giving way below me, 
I run, keeping just ahead, not falling below.

Pursued by only blackness and voices,
whispering how I may be loved,
but will never be desired; before it descends
into maniacal, hyena-like laughter.

I’m no longer on the bridge, but am 
Instead surrounded by flames.
They burn an angry orange and red,
enveloping me in thick black smoke.

I cough and cough, feeling unable
to clear my lungs. I feel weak,
it clings to my skin and stings my eyes.
Eventually I fall to my knees.

Suddenly from in front of me
I see a crack of light through the smoke
a door opening. I crawl my way to it
and through it to safe clean air.

After clearing my lungs, I find
that my eyes take a while to adjust.
A hunched shape in front of me,
turns out to be a small goblin.

‘That was fun, wasn’t it?’ he says.

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