A Masquerade of Bones.

Ivory shells have gathered here,
Today to reap a celebration.
And dwell upon such sinister indignations,
That drive the fleshly heart to fear.

This is their sullen compromise,
To leech the weariest of exercise,
By dance, of seance, and bleak sacrifice,
That penetrate the inland mere.

~

There, crimson ribbons, the birds of blood...
Writhe viciously amongst the pasty walls.
Thriving as the black draperies fall...
Their tails entrapped in the laviscious flood.

And down beneath the chandelier,
Lie carpetry stained with damp, moist soil,
Where gloom permeates the atmosphere,
And emerald mists settle amongst the turmoil.

Eyes have fallen upon the stone.
Slivers of white push up from the floor.
A clickety-click, click-clickety-click,
Then complacent groans of the mausoleum door.

An organ joins in, moaning in the distance,
A raven bellows with an opera stain...
The sounds grow louder, higher, stronger,
The bones emerge, longer...longer...

Then silence.
Darkness.
A mellow, grey light.