This so-called poem picks-up where Poe's "The Haunted Palace" left off ... the tortured pains are the eyes and the pathways are neural ... the emitted and evoked turbulences of acute psychosis.

Russell L. Smith
BRACE Character Profile

FRANTIC VISITATION
or
Poe's Woe

VII
Entering now through the tortured panes
   Deep pools frantic for light,
Come images potent to all banes
   Cunning afoot in quickness of flight,
Dancing around familiar ways of pain
   Now into the day, then into the night,
Peering and peeping one's name
   Exposing untrodden paths & all well trodden in fright.

VIII
Each heart of hearts clad in black
   Swiftly steps the well-footed estate,
(Oh, let us reel in the slack
   Lest Come! pass while we wait)
Compassing each form by its lack
   Chaos forced binding in order to weigh.
Shades of gray hanging on value's rack
   Each clamoring to be worn today.

IX
Glittering across the never-ending lie
   The fleet-footed scurry to survive
Evermore denying, denying, denying
   The ever Present that must certainly arise.
Heat portioned by time's cast die
   A clean cut space to revive --
Instances of exquisite pain in stillness sigh
   Two edges once felt always to bear alive.

X
Latticed degenerations in the wind
   Encompassing coals of desire,
Cursed spirits given power by men
   Listing and fluttering in the mire,
Once possessing without, ever possessed within
   Clasping hands in the midst of unseen fire,
No doubt a soul fitly sent to begin
   A last meal on earth in unseemly attire.

XI
As the ill kept tarn glows bright
   Now bubbles up as the harvest below,
Eddies of thick darkness pocking the sight
   Forcing the dank's ebb to flow ...
(Ahh, Nevermore claims gleaner's rights
   Where Evermore once tickled the ears to sow)
Winged creatures casting lots in the night
   Surfacing where each fears most to go.

XII
Black waves swirling deep within
   Rushing winds pressed hard to light,
Churning thick the blood of Then
   Shattering the comfort of night,
The silence of empty hooded winds
   Hovering, drifting, alert for flight,
Hollow seeds ever seeking new friends
   Wanting forever any exploit's delight.

Open the rapping that Now keeps tapping
And see just who's at the door.