The Dearly Departed

Although there be no afterlife

No ghost, no spirit, no poltergeist

No greater power, no evil sprite

Still there's darkness in my mind

But altered states exist alright

Where chasms yawn and bed bugs bite

Where scarabs scrabble and feed on fright

Ancient fears crowd the night

Like bitumen sticks feathers to skin

Malevolence drips and thickly clings

Through it's veil creatures creep

With sharpened claws and razor teeth

Rationally you understand

Such stories cannot touch a man

But when you drift from sleep's safe shores

You find yourself to be transformed

You will the spectre into sight

You gladly give up the good fight

You want to fall into danger's arms

The underlife now has you charmed

Transport me from this fragile shell

Take me down into my hell

Dissipate this cloud of pain

Let me be with you again

Pick apart these still remains

Vulture, serpent, kraken wakes

A body's nought but future stains

I'm ready to pay for mistakes

Perhaps you live to see the day

And believe once more you know the way

But lifelines drawn in shifting sands

Serve only to delude a man.