The Cavern

The sun stings my faded eyes on this burning morn. No refuge in sight. No breath to cull a cry. Dragging my broken bones in a trail of dust behind me. Under the dispiriting watch of the soulless, blinding eye. Rising from the desert an exiled peak stands forlorn. A vast fortress whose facade defies the will of all men. Crawling from the desert an exiled man weeps forlorn. A frail vessel whose will has been defied by all men. In the shadow of a gnarled tree at the foot of the peak, I collapse. And with one last remaining thought I yearn for a grave in which to lie. Rising from the desert an exiled peak stands forlorn. A vast fortress whose facade defies the will of all men. Crawling from the desert an exiled man weeps forlorn. A frail vessel whose will has been defied by all men. Can be this be the end? Is this all I have left? To die at the foot of this towering peak? As night's hold creeps forward a brilliant light appears from a concealed hollow. I gather my strength and rise from the dust for this strange light lures me forward. It calls my name It draws me near It calls me name It draws me near I cross the threshold into this new realm and with every step the light becomes brighter. As exhaustion's clutch takes hold, I fall to the bank of a shimmering pool as clear as glass. Millions of brilliant lights dance and flicker from it's depths and with a sigh I cup my hands and drink. As my body falls numb and the light begins to fade I know that in this cavern I'll die. bird of prey what is your place down in the fields trespasser divine no hunger atones and still you must weep over the bones and burn like the sun bearing the load there's no peace not in the sky not in the sea down in the dirt is where it must be down in the earth is where it must be down in the dirt is where it must be down in the dirt bird of prey trespasser divine how do you sleep or measure the time your hunger alone must burn like the sun and still you must weep for everyone for everyone I awake to the howling of wind. My breath like acrid smoke in this thin glacial air. Where have I gone? I try to shake off the confusion and when I rise to my feet I look out... How am I standing at the summit of this lonesome peak? Where have I gone? The night sky splits and from it's wound bleeds a spiraling aurora. As this spectacle draws closer a figure appears. An ethereal woman whose long hair veils her face. She offers me her hand and tells me to not be afraid. I take it and she pulls me to her breast. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid" she says as everything turns black.

Submitted by Nargaroth — Apr 25, 2025