Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Lori R. Lopez @LoriRLopez @Sotet_Angyal #LoH #fiction #poem #poetry

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Ravening
by Lori R. Lopez

I
They gathered at the dawn of a ghostly day,
The sleek black-and-blue Frightmongers
Dressed in their Mourning Tails. Indeed it was
A funeral as this brood of solemn birds
Collected to discuss the demise of Nature.
The world had turned grim and shrouded
At all hours. Forlorn and gray. A dismal setting
Of mythic and gothic proportion.
While they favored such an atmosphere,
It was not the way things should be.
“’Tis the time,” croaked an elder.
“Let it be done!” grated a massive flock.
Wings spread, they rose in unison.
Clans from every corner returned home
To impart the widespread conclusion.
Carry out Death’s judgement,
The punishing toll of
Ignoring signs, overlooking pleas for mercy
From guileless hearts, countless faces.
Children of the earth and water.

II
They arrived in numbers, a dark fleet.
A bleak wave of ballistic divebombers.
Stormclouds of consequence; an ill wind.
Obsidian orbs peeled, expressions dour.
Sailing above barren forest graveyards
Leveled by flame, sheared by axe.
Choking on soot or ash, a toxic breeze.
Eyeing with compassion
The stagnant lakes and streams.
Hooded Reapers toting scythe-beaks,
Don’t-mess-with-me mouths.
Swooping from the heavens,
Sharp-eyed and hawkish,
To rain a fury of toothless bites,
Savage talons; indignant plumage ruffled.
The Ravening is upon us!
Vengeful and teeming, chaotic and brutal.
“None are innocent,” quoth they,
“And the penance is blood.” In the end,
A few feathers would be shed . . .

Black and blunt, white and long —
For they did not swoop down alone.

Fiction © Copyright Lori R. Lopez
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from Lori R. Lopez:

Darkverse: The Shadow Hours

A rich gathering of poetry with a dismal twilight atmosphere, a brooding nature, an eerie tone . . .  DARKVERSE:  THE SHADOW HOURS encompasses such pieces written by Lori R. Lopez between 2009 and 2017, collected in three of her Poetic Reflections volumes along with humorous and serious verse.  This ample compendium allows a more focused reading experience and mood — presenting poems that share speculative themes, flashes of horror, glimpses of madness.

Lori is the author of THE DARK MISTER SNARK, LEERY LANE, MONSTROSITIES, AN ILL WIND BLOWS, THE FAIRY FLY, CHOCOLATE-COVERED EYES, JAR BABY, SAMHAIN, 3-Z, and SPIDER SOUP, among other tales.  She has been called a storyteller, whether composing verse or prose.

The aim of her DARKVERSE series is to offer a chilling trek through unlit stretches where all manner of creeps and kooks may lurk; where graveyards and bogs and full-moons abound.  The pages of THE SHADOW HOURS illuminate those morbid uncanny perils and dreads that inhabit drab corners, the known and unknown terrors of the night.  Vivid and distinct, her voice echoes our worst fears then delves beyond, exposing hitherto unimaginable frights.

Prepare to confront a motley array of ghouls and menaces that might just move under your bed.

Look for an Illustrated Print Edition with quirky art by the author.

Available on Amazon!