Presence of a Phantom: A Collection
Written by Hannah Ryan
Artwork: “Vulla” by Jela Meli
Ghost
It was a rebirth
From a broken start
Endless warmth from sun
As well as skin
Pungent cologne
With broad shoulders
Deep galactic eyes
Where I once saw
Futures for ourselves
Falling in love
Falling for spirits
Making hopes
Become realities
Until one day
Realization occurred
I am no spirit
Never wanted to be
In result then
Never to be wanted
You disappeared
Your only power
All because of
Hourglass expectations
I never met
Cliched qualifications
I never amounted to
Only to return
Yearning humanization
Just for the haunting
Continue the disappearances
For this is finally
The last departure allowed
For I will never
Kill myself to please you
For I will never
Allow favorous revival for you
Results in the death of me
Scream
A victim's heart pounds
The echoing drums race
Acknowledging a fear so foreign
One might ask,
What hides in the shadows?
Images, blurs, hauntings,
Creating demonizing auras
That linger in plain sight
Yet, in seconds, vanish.
Can they see it now?
While peering into the black
Of the darkened ambiance,
The creature taunts thee
With all types of fears
How did it find them?
No signs of claws or fangs.
Although the very presence
Slices deeper wounds into memory
Than body would suffice.
Is this even human?
The reflection of an instance
It rips skeletons
Out of the very closets
One would seal shut
For all eternity.
Which hideous truth first?
The sinister voice
Beckoning its prey
With a blackened envelope
Accentuating monstrous motive
What will it be, hide or hardihood?
It wages war
Voracious for flesh
An axiom all in its own
Decorating in its disguise
Is it truly a mask?
The camouflage conforms
From bloodshed to blood promise
It changes back
A humanizing form returns
Is it believable that the friend is truly the
Foe?
Is it Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?
To expose itself to the world
Showing mask versus facade.
Triggering a whole new being.
Grim Reaper
Death comes again,
The phantom themself,
Approaching my presence
Knowing I won't go.
I fell for death once,
Love driven to lifeless,
Whole soul for the taking.
However, I'm stronger.
Aching with urges for me,
Urges for my being,
Urges for my soul.
They came once,
Only leaving me plagued,
Branding me for the return.
To claim others only
Then, coming again for me.
My anger scared them off,
Leaving no ounce of mercy.
They kept taunting me.
Every testimony I proclaimed,
The haunting whisper
Lingers in the background.
Only I can hear.
Only I can notice.
I bring forth courage,
Given to me by life,
To face Grim death
Another time,
Another time more,
Another time final.
Death comes daily now.
Death believes, still,
That they have me
Constricted at the neck.
Yet, I always had them
Chained to a leash.
