Jump to content
    AC Benus
  • Author
  • 335 Words
  • 943 Views
  • 2 Comments
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Demon Dream - 1. Prelude

.

spacer.png

 

 

Demon Dream

Prelude:

 

Once, when an old woman came to perish

As truant exile on a barren plain,

Her fragile limbs snapped, not letting her rise;

So in the spiteful dirt she writhed in pain.

 

All the fear she still composed, feared this death.

Being cut off now, she fought that unknown;

Though it drained strength and stole the time still left,

She fought for it, for what else had she known?

 

Remembered, past memories began to rage,

The woe of life, a moment to endure:

From father who sold her, she ne’er forgave;

To the man who took, ne’er thinking to love her.

 

Only a life of toil unrewarded

By child or hope stung her dying thought,

And all the dreams condemned yet unfilled

That the younger heart of hers had once sought.

 

Her husband, dead some twenty years ago,

In a fever’s fire, sailed on like a sigh.

Smiling in happy wonder, he passed on,

While she now contended hard not to die.

 

An unseen thing stirred and drifted in the air,

Drawn from the Heaven Shelf down to her strife.[1]

Her fear of death delivered her a hell

In semblance of a deal for mortal life.

 

Old and alone, a woman came to die.

In a heartless room, the night of her brain,

Crept wonder of what life had signified

But drudgery and love betrayed through pain.

 

In a dream from which she should not arise,

Her savior whispered, and a compact swore.

Fretting, she took it that life should not end;

She feared death, but woke more doomed than before.

 

 

 


[1] Heaven Shelf: the kamidana (god shelf) is an ubiquitous item of traditional Japanese homes. Found in the kitchen, or adjacent spaces, it primarily honors the Shinto deity of fire, but can host other gods as well. Fresh offerings of salt, water and rice are placed before miniature shrines on the shelf every day.

_

Copyright © 2021 AC Benus; All Rights Reserved.
  • Like 2
  • Love 2
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
You are not currently following this author. Be sure to follow to keep up to date with new stories they post.

Recommended Comments

Chapter Comments

14 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

Now the stage is set; I want to hear more. Please sir, may I some more?

Yes, hold your bowl up high. More is coming :)

  • Love 1
Link to comment
View Guidelines

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Newsletter

    Sign Up and get an occasional Newsletter.  Fill out your profile with favorite genres and say yes to genre news to get the monthly update for your favorite genres.

    Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..