Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
Queen of Shadows
“Pulvis et umbra sumus. (We are but dust and shadow.)”
― Horace, The Odes of Horace
In a dark glen of an ancient forest
there lives a wicked old crone
who feasts upon tender humans
that through fate, happen by all alone
Her name is Queen of Shadows
for to look upon her weathered face
your sight will fade to black clouds
as you’re sent to Hell’s charred gates
Queen craves the taste of terrified flesh
for it feeds her fantasies of frenzy
as she cracks and gnaws on meaty bones
she becomes a beast of powerful fury
When the wretched one comes forth
She rises up on bent hind legs
Her eyes flame with fiery lights
Oh how she loves to hear them beg!
But pleas only tease her bloody thirst
for the Queen never tires of hearing
their anguished screams while she feeds
and rips out their hearts for dessert.
©2020 Linda Lee Lyberg
dVerse Poetics: Exploring Gothic as a Literary Genre
Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page
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Charmed Chaos 
Oh this is deliciously dark and enticing 😀 with a Keats flavor to it! I especially love the image; “When the wretched one comes forth/She rises up on bent hind legs/Her eyes flame with fiery lights/Oh how she loves to hear them beg!” Thank you so much for writing to the prompt, Linda! 💝💝
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Thank you dear Sanaa!❤️
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You’re most welcome! 💝
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Oh, what a terrifying creature you’ve imagined! Well done! 😀
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Thanks Merril!
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Oh wow Linda. Running into this queen would most certainly qualify as a bad day. Very gothic write.
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Thank you Rob.
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There is something so frightening about a forest in darkness… until you get used to it, when you see how fantastic it can be.
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Chilling — to the marrow. 😉
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Haha! Thanks Ken. 😂
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The Queen of Shadows is thirsty beast from hell. Good one Linda.
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Thank you Grace.
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This is not a lady I would like to meet on a dark night, or probably at any time! This is Gothic writing in all its gory glory!
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Thank you!
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Oh WOW, what a wonderfully “gothical” poem! Your descriptive phrases are mesmerizing. Kudos!
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Thank you Beverly.
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