I see in bones and marrow, broken skulls
and crimson ink on parchment scribbled: words
in vain repeated songs of harrow; cull
of reaper: blood on pillow, chest that hurts.
O, welcome footfalls, shadow from his scythe
Tonight at last I gather ash from leaves
I sense his presence, on my flesh incised
the glyphs and signs, his words of grief.
I feel around my neck a tightened noose,
and in my armpits bulbs of pestilence;
my brow is wet, my shallow breath reduced
to meet his numbers and the vigilance
of hallowed harvest and that voice of night,
his whispered warnings, dreams and fright.
Vanitas by Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts
Vanitas – a still-life painting of a 17th-century Dutch genre containing symbols of death or change as a reminder of their inevitability.
I let my sonnet (of sorts) represent the same and link it the Tuesday platforms with the toads.
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Wow, Bjorn, that is a stunner of a sonne! It really expresses the image.
An adults-only Grimms Fairytale. Very grim. =:-O
Death is inevitable, but a peaceful one is always desired.
Welcome footfalls… end this suffering.
I’m always excited when I find you have devised a sonnet. I love the way you have not allowed the form or rhyme to dictate the flow of phrasing. This provides for a thought-driven piece within a delicate frame. For me, anything with a memento mori is an instant favourite,.
a harrowing tale of the grim reapers presence, be it a real or dream-scape report
Thanks for sharing the painting too
A blessed Tuesday to you Bjorn
much love…
This is stunning! Sends chills to my spine. Powerful images and the rhythm keeps a frightening pace — a well wrought sonnet. Thanks for sharing.
A nice sonnet, Bjorn. I like the ending, starting with the noose, no turning back with that. Yet, to me,, those words of the reaper hold a small hope.
..
October the month of Halloween, and you conjure the macabre so effectively ~
Chilling in a way reminding one of mankind’s vulnerability in life and not wanting to avoid what’s coming!
Hank
We will all become part of the harvest at some point. This is a chilling visual expertly written. Great writing!
Bjorn, your words always paint pictures into our subconscious.
You captured this poem and the imagery so well. Excellent my friend. 🙂
Whew. Powerful stuff. So well done.
Frightening in its clarity.