VISUAL PROMPT
Submitted by Margaret Sok
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Against the stone wall of the cave, a scraping talon sounds...
Cave-Song
A full moon is an obnoxious thing,
much too bright for my feared kind.
I’ve nothing left those nights but to sing,
and use a tune to pass the time.
I begin with some taps,
a scratch, and a pat—
just one foot, my left foot,
deep in the back.
My right talons then start,
with a melodious rap.
Rap-rap-tap!
Scratch-pat-scratch!
Tap-tap-rap!
Pat-scratch-pat!
Oh what fun! I hum and chuckle,
but this comes out
more like a rumble,
In turn, these old cave walls do buckle,
and rocks join my song
as they rain and they tumble!
It’d not be so bad
if I kept my sound down,
but it appears they heard me,
down the hill,
in the town—
A rash of torches
outside my cave,
I see glints of swords
and ghost-white faces,
Oh, what else can I do
but entertain
my dear fans who came
all these paces?
So I sing in my cave,
as loud as can be,
But I’m afraid to their ears
it’s not quite the same,
For some faint
and some scream
and some dare demand
to know ‘this beast’s name!’
I grin my toothy grin
as their fires go out,
As they flee
like a mad, dashing throng,
They’ve luck I’ve no taste
for toadies with gout—
I just want to finish my song!