Written for Day 11 of Sammi’s “13 Days of
Samhain” words “murderously” and “maniacal”,
and for Sadje’s “What Do You See” image below.
three tapers weep their wax on Samhain’s night
their shoulders draped in gauze of ghostly white
a pocket watch ticks murderously slow
counting the hours the dying roses know
pale butterflies, like souls too frail to stay
flit toward the flames that beckon them away
while in the mirror’s tarnished, oval glass
something unseen keeps watching moments pass
one rose has fallen, petals curled and dry
beside a grinning skull with hollow eye
upon its tip a paper wing alights
a trembling crown for this, the lord of nights
the candles sputter; somewhere, faint and thin
a laugh maniacal rattles from within
for all who linger past the veil tonight
shall wither as the roses, dry and white
NAR©2026
#WDYS
This is “Dead Roses” by Weezer
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
