Valence

As his hands threw the net, His mind drifted away. Fragments of voices, faces, words – yet Each, having passed, was like a dream, Leaving echoes that brought others to life. A churning current carried him along, And barely noticing them writhe, The man pulled the fish out one by one. In the mountain’s shade his shins grew numb. As stung fingers drew the final net, Within the lake, he heard a hum And saw colours dance beyond the shoals. Its form seemed without boundary. Its message without words. Yet it whispered of his glory, And endless joys to hold. If only you could reach me, The others would admire. If only you could grasp me, The struggle would expire. Without heed; without a doubt, He slogged into the lake’s expanse. Resisting as he waded out, The water grew around him. But all those steps would lead to nowhere – His motion masked futility. For all the effort he could bear, That thing would come no closer. The zeal drained into regret, Had he been down this path before? Each time, it seemed, he would forget, That it would never resolve. So, giving up, he turned away, But once again would find, That each and every move he made Would simply bind him tighter. Recursion without resolution, Purpose to justify itself. Boundless striving, fear and passion – To end in nothing, as it started. Perception collapsed around the shore, Where he could not believe – A fisherman, once lost in thought, Was staring back, and through, him. And as the man came ever nearer, Both entangled; one aware, He mouthed a warning none could hear, And sank into the silt.

Submitted by VladTheImpaler666 — Nov 09, 2025

The ridge had long hinted At strong and at weak – Both threatening wall And welcoming peak A taunting horizon For shortening years One sun, but two shadows: Equidistant fears For my life I have watched you Like my father before Do I die without knowing? Or climb to find more? Compelled to discover With answers so near And with thoughts so contorted By a limbic leer With the bristling awareness Of a fate not yet sealed, A decision is reached That the great peak shall yield Looking back, I now see, Having long since set off Though in first breaking trail, Of course, I could not – That the struggle continues, Tearing sinew each step Sensing one fear replaced By its twin, in regret Growing nearer, hope holding Simple foothold; a fall Damaged limb, but not fatal – Just a moment, to stall Rising up, now mere steps From the summit, look down To stare out across that Which was already found I am here, at the crest Where my eyes always fell Did I leave them for this? Frozen lips cannot tell Looking back, I now see, Having long since set off Though in first breaking trail, Of course, I could not – That my time, and this mountain, and my father before But a cycle of reaching and striving to claw, Moving higher, hands clasping, eyes looking for more Not a thing left to find, in all that I saw

Submitted by Finntroll — Nov 09, 2025

The mountain kept a trove inside That was known only to the three Closest friends now that their greed Had burdened them with things to hide The entrance was a hidden window Punctured through a narrow vein To crawl inside as light would wane And come to pitch in caves below In secrecy, they would converge To split the rocks and mill to dust Revealing spoils within the crust From when those peaks had first emerged Blurred intent through eyes that stung Their fingers cut upon the slate While stale air would suffocate And sap the vigour from their lungs The taper's flame was just enough To see each pick from fall to rise So desperate that they find their prize Before the wick would finally snuff But when one paused to heave a breath Their friend's hand would conceal, it seemed Which caused a thought had something gleamed? And trust began to sense its death What if he knows that I saw? And what if he decides to strike? But what if it was nothing more Than light's deceit and failing sight? From just a flicker in the mind The thought would twist, consume, then grow And with each wave, doubt would erode Til all he knew confirmed his bind Those ancient paths bore only fear That, left unchecked, had overflowed To shatter balance he had known As shrinking walls began to near In pebble's bouncethe avalanche In falling dropthe bursting dam He gripped the pick, and looming, then Swung an arc that killed his friend He barely saw their third had fled As febrile haze evaporated And with it, certainty faded Abandoned now for churning dread Endless whispers from the void Each offering narration He searched the body frantically And begged for vindication

Submitted by Corpse Grinder — Nov 09, 2025