it came up the side of the pergola
hand over hand
fingers wrappin round wood
as it climbed
no breath
no whispered threats
only the scrape of claws
draggin itself higher
when it reached the top beam
it crouched
a face of ash and absence
a body without eyes
head tilted
watchin
waitin
a single hum
then silence
a humminbird plucked from the air
snatched mid flight
curled tight inside a fist of dark
before I knew what it was
it didn’t rush
it toyed
pinched the wings away
one by one
slow
like a clock
that knows you’re watchin
waitin for the second hand to move
one feather
two feather
love me
love me not
love me
each rip followed by a smile
too large for its face
before it bit
soft first then deeper
like it wanted me to see
the life drain from the bird
blood began to fall
a single drop
warm against my forehead
another down my temple
slidin to the corner of my mouth
copper on my tongue
before I thought to close it
and its grin stretched wider
teeth drippin red
as if it found a joke in me
I froze
tried to force steady
into my breath
heart poundin an ache
right against my ribs
blood coolin on my skin
it leaned closer
the beams groanin
and it waited
empty face
fastened on mine
and I stared back
til every second
felt like the drop
before the rope gives
and the dark felt like breath
pressin against my skin
Great piece 👍
Very Stephen King-esque.
You build the momentum like he does…and our imagination scares itself from your words.
j.
Powerfully penned, Ambjr. Amazing imagery my friend, excellent work. Appreciate you.
Damian