Dark Ages

Dark times! Avatar: The Dark Ages by JonasDeRo

A cold, damp dungeon

full of rusted chains,

iron rings

and steel studded

heavy wood doors,

bolted from the outside.

A peat roof

cut from bog,

slices of black earth

where bones survive

the march of time.

Jailer's legs,

hollow as a tree

filled to the brim

with false hopes

and brandy.

A castle in the air

where serfs

proclaim their fealty

to survive

such sordid torture.

In these times

a king's, a king

who proclaims his throne

through butchered limbs

and severed skulls,

and making widows beg.

 

14/04/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Bryad Polis Valentino]

I handpicked this one. They King's were ruthless..discarding queens and knights alike. It's hard for me to appreciate them, but somehow I do...maybe it's a lesson to not be ruthless. I'm glad that the Holy Roman Empire isn't around anymore...I like democracy.

This emphasized the message. Perfect imagery. Bravo.

Little thing...it took one good friend to appreciate the English. Jen...a dual citizen who died a virgin. I miss her, always.

Is it true there's no basements really there?

[Chris Shaw]

Dark times. God help you if you found yourself supporting the wrong side. A descriptive write. You really captured the atmosphere here, the cruelty was unbelievable. I can remember visiting Warwick Castle (I think it was that one) where there were some small dungeons where people were incarcerated and literally left to rot on their own and in their own filth. I like to think we have progressed, at least in some parts of the world we have.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes I love Warwick Castle and remember that dungeon. I think there are still dark ages being served out, look at Syria and Yemen for example. Many thanks Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, those places spring to my mind as well:(

[jacob erin-cilberto]

gee i think we are in this place again...i feel those chains..and it is really starting to get dark in here.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sometimes Jacob it feels we have hardly moved on, apart from central heating and mobile phones. Many thanks.

[David Klay]

Some claim that we have returned to those 'dark ages'. Perhaps some should open a book and read a bit more. A very precisely written piece that recalls the not so charming side of kingdoms.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you David. I was sort of seeing the parallels as I was penning it.

[David Klay]

I should have worded by response better. I do not believe that civilised societies have sunk to those levels, yet. I do believe that there are many countries that have never evolved from that mentality. In either case I hope you were not offended by my comment.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No not at all. I think some societies have sunk that low and with global reach and the use of coersion and sanctions and use of force many people suffer even today.