"Fiddlesticks"

Lo the world darkens, illumines a grave One that never lodged a soul too brave Fear is why they live, and so rot your eyes Never relinquished a man’s last sunrise

One place exists where children are free One place remains where no man ought to be It’s dark at night, but darkness is only scary To a wicked human whose sins they tried to bury

A father lived at the edge of Fox Glen Festering a hatred for the Noxian men He bore their harsh taxes and gleaned what he would But no man bottles it as much as he could

His son a small lad hung onto his cloak Nuisance as always, but his patience broke Bottles came out, meats and bread abound He hated his life, his torment profound

His son gathered daisy’s, fed the silken black crows Farm work and duties, he fought those old foes Innocence and joy in a world black and bleak He only wanted freedom, and rubs his crow’s beak

Officials came in, their iron armor glaring Massive halberd shining, cutting and daring Demanding their tithe, the old man refusing They beat him to a puddle, his screams their amusing

He came home that day, soaking in brandy The barn door left open coming in handy No warning to his predicament breached his son’s mind Leave him alone, hot rage made him blind

Old man’s anger ran red, the light on outside He saw his son in vision, another problem in pride His mind flushed to violet, his hand wiped his beard Some blood from his beating left a long dark red smear

Wind blocked out the sound of his boots on the ground The door swung wide, his son slamming inside Hand grasping neck, he started to beat His son screaming loudly, every blow on repeat

A second, a minute, an eternity passed Before his hands released, the shadows amassed Fear coursed through his bones, his knees gave way He knew that this sin one day he’d repay

He picked up some canvas, his staff and silage Fit the remains inside, plans to leave the village Someone would notice his boy not around Someone would know by next sundown

Fear ruled his thought, fear ripped his inside He cackled, and sweat, his mind trained on suicide The mirror started back at him, he swallowed and coughed But then he realized, he’d grown so very soft

Dawn came again, he whistled a tune As he gathered remains of his son’s canvas cocoon Picked up a mallet, walked to the center of his field Tacked the staff down, left the carcass concealed

He wandered on home, noticing the breeze A crow hopped by, a short moment of unease But he scoffed at the thought, and continued home His safety haven waiting, his selfish biome

A fortnight went by, he sat twiddling thumb Surprised by his fortune, unbeknownst his outcome When a light first appeared, a lantern outside When he did see the source, his bones chilled inside

A light hung suspended, nothing to hold it there He opened the door, it stayed in midair Dread filled his heart; he began growing weary Was this a magical creature, or some fairy?

The light stayed true and shadows dance around As it quivered and flickered, the edge of his compound He held back a greeting, wanting to know more But he knew with dread what this strange creature bore

The thing trailed away, he cried to slow down It went even faster, his fear started to drown His eyes started to blacken; his lungs fit to bursting He tried to keep pace, his heart was burning

Wind howled around like a fortnight ago He whimpered when he saw that single crow Sweat beaded his forehead and his fingers traced protection A demon had arrived for his reconciliation

He ground to a halt at the foot of his altar His staff still buried making his heart falter His sights trailed upward, and his heart stopped in fright He saw the sight of his sin in the pale lamp light

The light disappeared, he was bathed in darkness A Murder filled the emptiness showing its starkness He cried out for mercy, his eyes straining to see The depth of fear he’d made reality