the incubus sat heavy
on her chest
puzzled
the white eyed horse
rejectamenta from the military
destined for the abattoir
cheering him on
to do
or
not to do
that was the question
he had been caged
for so long
in the farmyard
shackled to a missal
he had forgotten
how to be a devil
The perils of domestication and familiarity, you lose your edge. Nice one ~
ReplyDeleteGreat painting, great commentary on it. These experiences of having someone sitting on your chest so you can't breathe are supposed to be pretty universal. In a lot of cases, it's an Old woman, the Old Hag', in English and Norse myths who sits there. I've experienced it myself, though the Devil himself seemed to be present in the room. :) It's called sleep paralysis, and sleep studies seem to show that it's a disruption of normal REM. It's one of the best explanations of alien abductions out there.
ReplyDeleteKeep those old gals from sitting on your chest Charles. It's bad for the health!
DeleteA nightmare with an ironic lemon twist of humor as its finale - excellent!
ReplyDeleteahh loved this take on the prompt. This picture is so haunting...especially the horse...to do or not to do....taken literally- the horse was seen as a metaphor for libido (as I'm sure you well know)..the way you write- 'he'd been shackled for so long- maybe he'd forgotten how to be a devil' made me think metaphorically about libido and our modern day relationships. Nice work Cressida!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this prompt and picture you provided. Thanks Stu.
Deleteha...i found this rather comical actually...forgotten how to be a devil...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone got the joke ,Brian!
DeleteI am reliably informed that incubi and succubi reflect the desires of those inviting them to their bed in the night.
ReplyDeleteHa, how well you've capitalized on the twisted humor here, thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteFiddledy Dee!
ReplyDeleteThe creature of nightmare having a nightmare :-) Wonderful play on the prompt. I enjoyed this very much.
ReplyDeletei love the end, he forgot how to be a devil. very interesting twist
ReplyDeletesemantic feeling