Phantasms

The darker side of those enigmatic ladies...

Queens of darkness and delight,

Summoned by the fall of night,

Oft slip through shadows causing fright,

But sometimes glimpsed dancing in the moonlight.

Givers of joy, givers of pain,

Darkness and light clash again and again,

Beauty and warmth, mildew and stain,

All of one piece, they wax and they wane.

The siren's call, the harpy's screech,

The knife in the back, the walk on the beach,

The love and the lies, the lessons they teach,

When the darkness calls, your soul's within their reach.

But when the daylight comes, their glamour fades,

And you find yourself beyond the reach of their blades.

Your soul returns to walk in sunlit glades,

And those queens of darkness are again mere shades.

© 2017 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

This came to me, all of one piece, in the middle of a sleepless night. I found it interesting - it appears to me to have several different layers of meaning. See what you think.

Reviews

[A. Kim Spradling]

Layers of meaning.... Oh, yes, you are correct!!! I think this is about all women. Being a woman, that makes me sad. I do not know if you have been among the injured out there, but I have been on the receiving end in an opposite way. I see some men this way. Not all, mind you. Just some. Just like there are women out there who desire to do damage. Being hurt makes me all the more careful not to do that to others. Some who are hurt only want to hurt in return. Others just retreat from life. I, for one, have nothing but hope!!!

See what your words have done???? As usual, LOVE IT!!

[The Iron Horseman]

This one is kinda weird, in that I don't know which layer of meaning I prefer myself! It's certainly not meant to decry women in any way; I honestly believe that all good things in this life come courtesy of the female of the species (see my poem 'Woman' for more on that). But this shows us the spookier side of the equation!

[A. Kim Spradling]

Most definitely the spookier side of the equation. I just love your work... You cause one to think.

[The Iron Horseman]

I always liked Einstein's crack on that subject.
When asked by someone how they could be a genius like him, he replied "Do what I do. Make a point of actually thinking at least once a day."
Lol!

[Taino]

The chaos, the fear, the hopeless feeling that plagues the soul when darkness lurks, then light returns and we rise to live another day. Very well done!!!

[The Iron Horseman]

Many thanks for your kind words. I am glad you liked it, and you captured its essence very well in your review.

[barleygirl]

Well done! This is one of my favorite rhyming patterns to do myself, so I know it's not easy to find four rhyming words with not one of them sounding like a "stretch" for your message. This is an excellent effort for a quick midnight scribble . . . being a bit picky about rhythm, tho, I might prune a word here & there to even out the flow a bit. I like the way positive & negative imagery is woven together thru-out (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Margie. I know what you mean about the rhythm but I couldn't come up with anything shorter without losing meaning; if you have suggestions I would love to hear them.

[barleygirl]

I have to admit I'm gun shy about making specific suggestions (most writers aren't fond of getting specifics) . . . my way is not your way *wink! wink!*

[The Iron Horseman]

I actually like suggestions, but I understand and sympathize with your reservations. Talking of gun shy, I am currently working on a Western novel; do you like Westerns?

[barleygirl]

I like any genre that's not used all the time becuz it often teaches me about originality & gives me ideas about something new to write about! Feel free to read request me . . .

[The Iron Horseman]

Will do. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

[Norman 223]

I see you share Margie's penchant for "Monorhyming" which, she has used to good effect lately. I am still unsuccessfully trying to compete with her. Perhaps this is one of the phantasms that is pursuing me.
NB . I am, of course, referring to the poetic style - not Margie :-D

[barleygirl]

Tee! Hee! *smile*

[The Iron Horseman]

Lol! I actually like to play with all kinds of rhyming schemes, but yes, this is one of my favorites. Margie does it to perfection. I could not believe her latest tour de force. Spectacular.

[Paul Bell]

The dark hour of 4 a.m. Where the minds drifts around lost. Someone wants to kill you. You can't see them, till it happens. Okay I'm going to stop.

[The Iron Horseman]

:D Why stop? You're obviously inspired - use it!
Funny the things you think of in the middle of the night, isn't it?

[Coyote Poetry]

This is poem. Darkness overcome us and in the morning. All we have is memories. Your powerful use of description took the reader into wild dance and need. Thank you my friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Coyote.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.