The Curse of the Matted Horn

But it was to late...

01/28/12

 

I once gave way to a matted horn.

She, within a tangled mess, did seem forlorn.

I listened as her stories did unfold.

They seemed sound and sure and solid, if maybe old.

"So where is he who put you here?" I asked somewhat dismayed.

"He's gone passed the hay to respect his true love's grave."

She asked me to untangle her,

Saying "This is by no means where I want to be,

Or how I should be expected to live!

I just know if you are good you can free me."

As I am good, I reached into her tangled mess,

And hundreds of hungry flies came to life from rest!

They bit and bit me, until you'd think they'd be sore

Or tired from biting, and could not bite anymore.

Their venom made me drowsy,

Yet still I waded through

Until the last of the tangles

I managed to undo.

But it was too late,

Only then did I realize

All there ever was to this horn,

Was the matting and the flies!

And here it is I lost my blood;

My bones lay e'er to mourn

The day that fell upon my ear

The curse of the matted horn.

 

 

Author's Note

Art: Robert Lawson

Reviews

[kublakhan27]

I've been guilty of misinterpreting your works in the past my friend, but I truly can't imagine this piece being anything other than sombre. After all, a curse is a curse, and it implies that something bad has happened to the voice of the narrator. Were it a spell, perhaps I'd be able to put a more positive spin on it. I'm not sure if it's just me, but that is how I distinguish spells and curses: the former is something good and desirable, the latter is something bad and unwanted. Speaking of the poem itself, I think you've done a wonderful job of incorporating rhymes into the structure as seamlessly as you have. I think this would work well as a spoken-word piece, for there are so many places a voice could take this piece to. Wonderful work Mel :)

[Melobldnfr]

Thanks Steve for reading and reviewing this piece. It is from the perspective of giving away ones power to something that not only will not give back, but will consume. I would love to hear it read by someone with an Irish lilt. I hear it told as a myth, fable, or legend.

[Melobldnfr]

As the desire to save others from themselves is often the "curse" of the child of a borderline mother, especially the 1st born child thereof - I hadn't realized it fully until now, but this piece was surely an attempt by my subconscious to get my attention regarding my allowing myself to be beguiled into situations, all be it honorable, I likely had little to no place.

[patricia]

this paints a very true picture, we learn don't we? It can become an identity, then before we know it, this need to be needed has become addiction. Love the message here. The images you use are perfect. Thanks.

[Tomás Ó C..]

lol... like it!!! :-)

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

fascinating. So often we give and give and then find ourselves kicked in the teeth, but we don't change, we continue to get up and give and give, because that is who we are. :) XX