The Other Side of Bethlehem

~ moondustwriter

Soft caressing satin sheets the finest weave
laid out awaiting our grey mistress
today the surroundings a lowly cave
but tomorrow she says ” it will be a palace”
for she is deserved of the world’s best

*

We shudder as she draws near
her greatness is in contrast to our lowliness
I behold her and see earth’s riches clear
etched in her skin, reflected off her eyes, in her touch
my mate is poised to rearrange all and such

*

Fearing that the perfumes and oils
do not emulate her beauteous perfection
we like dogs in our groveling toil
have no ability to bark
we whimper at her approach in the dark

*

She kicks my mate across the rocky ground
“FOOLS don’t you know what is occurring
can’t you hear the angels’ grating sound?”
we had been too busy to listen to music
so heavenly, it would make a person sick

*

My eye twinkled if just a speck
it was but for an instant
she laid her iron clad foot on my neck
“if you smile (even inside)
you’ll hear the crack of your demise”

*

I lay in submission complete
I was feigning it (a little)
heavy golden foot slight release
I relieved to set candlelight free
not too much, only enough to see

*

“The light I so detest
had to come inside to get away”
I shook my head in unknowingness
it’s night, the darkest part of the year
light can’t from darkness just appear

*

“I’m weary and must go to my chamber
You – lay offerings at the idols’ feet
I need peace from the racket – Out There”
see pointed with icy white fingers
little of life in her form still lingered

*

Her heart didn’t beat for it was stone
her evil was forged and elemental
“Give them extra measure, from your supplies atone”
I tried to shrug off the hunger, tho not slight
I extinguished the small amount of frigid light

*

Shivering my mate small and forlorn
we survived because we had each other
we, like two sides of a penny worn
I warmed her with my body, licked her face
unusual trembling, her heart seemed to race

*

Her head faced the night so clear
“Let’s go see”
she whispered silently in my ear
“Do we dare?” my collar seemed to tighten
“I must gaze on the place that it brightens”

*

She stood up courageously on two legs
the cave entrance bathed in golden light
I crawled behind her so afraid
echo of heavenly host in notes so high
we saw what should have been an ink dark sky

*

Silver musicians I couldn’t count
filled midnight expanse
beyond calculations, a large amount
“Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace
among those with whom He is well pleased”

*

The music echoed off the earth it seemed
and somehow I knew the star
its chorus about the universe beamed
“There…” my love pointed to a distant cave
“We cannot, we are but unworthy slaves”

*

“Who cares about that when there is this…”
she ran flinging her hands out like a bird (or an angel)
her radiance I longed to kiss
I stood bathed in the light
wishing to cling to my miserable plight

*

Afraid of the consequence
I pondered the words “Glory…”
heard screams from my mistress incensed
“I must have peace no matter the price
feed the idols more grain, the amount twice”

*

(it was my hands she forced to feed)
My mate was gone from sight
I heard her voice on a gentle breeze
it caressed my cheek
“Join us in the light,” I heard her speak

*

“I cannot my mistress will destroy me.”
“No, you will finally be free!”
The breeze turned into a stiff wind
I cowered and clung to the rock
I felt sharp tendrils bite into my skin

*

With authority a breath spoke, “be gone”
reaching, passing through my soul
it had wrapped itself about the idols
flung against rocks on the hill
my mistress flew in storm’s fiery will

*

Unclothed she looked weak, undone
bone stacked upon brittle bone
white rage sprang like an afterthought
she ran toward the dust
lifeless she sifted through the miry plot

*

Her mouth foamed with impotent waves
“we will forge anew”
her promise to save
“we will gather strength and overpower this…”
weak was her fury filled hiss

*

Caring little I slunk away
wishing I had run down the hill
like a curious lamb with my mate
instead I crawled and under my breath
“grant me a swift wintry death”

*

I heard the night sky
continue to sing
“I will find peace…” my mistress’ cry
with one final energized shout
clumps of dirt hanging from her mouth

*

She strove to ingest her god’s earthen morsel
“There is no peace for the wicked”
I heard a sylvan voice chortle
light like a broad sword struck the plot
she deserved what she got

*

my fingers clung to the foul ground
hoping by day, I would never be found.

 

~ Leslie Moon

© Copyright 2014 Leslie Moon. All Rights Reserved

Published by moondustwriter

Thank you for visiting Moondustwriter. One of the many exciting things I've had the honor of doing is writing and publishing in multiple genres (including education) in E. African for E. Africa. As a writer, it is a thrill to write for children (on all continents) who want to learn. I've been part of the blogging community for more than 15 years. Some old timers may remember the award winning (2011 Twitter Shorty ) blog community - One Stop Poetry. I was the co-producer of that fast growing blog community. I am a published writer, poet, artist and photographer. I have written, as well as edited, for periodicals, radio, blogs and fellow writers. I presently research and edit for academia (what was I thinking?) There are many facets to this moon - my joy is in meeting you!

26 thoughts on “The Other Side of Bethlehem”

  1. Pingback: Bethlehem #poetry #Christmas | Moondustwriter's Blog

  6. A suitably grand Damned finale, Leslie. My favourite stanza:

    Fearing that the perfumes and oils
    do not emulate her beauteous perfection
    we like dogs in our groveling toil
    have no ability to bark
    we whimper at her approach in the dark

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  7. You weave your prose into beautiful tapestry, Leslie!

    “The light I so detest
    had to come inside to get away”
    I shook my head in unknowingness
    it’s night, the darkest part of the year
    light can’t from darkness just appear

    Aah, but your entire piece glows brightly! 🙂

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  8. Lovely, Leslie! I too love poetry. One can run the gamut of emotions and imply without full articulation. This is pretty obvious within the seeming paradox of hope versus eternal slavery present in this great poem. Being the pessimistic person I am, the Dark part of this poem speaks to me more than the light. But for me, that is grand. 😀

    Blaze

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  13. Reblogged this on The Road to Nowhere… and commented:

    ‘The Other Side of Bethlehem’ – a poem by Leslie Moon. Sadly, also her last post with Pen of the Damned – Leslie you will be greatly missed! Read closely friends, this is not a work that praises the glory of the legend, but shows us the underbelly of a beast that many worship blindly to this day. Elusive commentary, I know – but take from it what you will…

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    1. Thanks Nina I will miss all of you and the great writing.
      Thanks too for the commentary.
      This poem was meant to be brutal (and dark) in its contrast to the true hope of Christmas.
      Much love to the Damned Darklings – a fine group of horror writers.

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  14. P.S. This post is indeed my last horror entry for Pen of the Damned but not my last work as a writer. I have some exciting writing projects (too many) in 2015.
    I am hoping with a bit of extra time that I can get one of my pet projects off the ground (well my pet is a dragon so it likes to fly). you can find me at moondustwriter.com and dragontailsblog.wordpress.com
    Wishing each of you a soaring 2015!!!

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