Artist: Unknown

Unholy Ground
By:  JoAnna Martin

I kneel on the ground
before the alter.
Deep inside, 
I feel my spirit falter.
Silhouetted by
the light of the moon,
my soul enters a life
that was taken too soon.
In a place far away
and a time long ago,
I open my eyes,
a cold wind blows.
Underneath my feet
is unholy ground.
I can feel the sadness,
it's all around.
I am marching on 
in a parade of death.
Preparing for my fate,
I take a deep breath.
A thousand eyes
gaze my way,
fingers pointing at a witch
marching under a sky of gray.
Dressed in white gowns
for souls so pure,
their faces masks of security
for the insecure.
Their minds full of doubt,
knowing my capabilities,
they will never rest as long as 
my heart still beats.
They mount me to the stake
and tighten the ropes,
for a moment there is order,
or so they hope.
But as they bring the torch
close to the pyre,
smoke begins to rise.
yet there is no fire.
The clouds of smoke
encircle me,
a cyclone of mist
to set me free.
The ropes fall from me, 
I raise my hands.
All the elements 
are at my command.
The earth starts to shift,
a cold rain falls,
the wind starts to roar,
a ring of fire surrounds them all.
I am in control,
I now have the power,
they know their fears have come true
in this final hour.
I hear screams from the crowd, 
the shocking gasps.
Fate and destiny have
set me free at last.
My eyes blacken
as I summon a curse.
Of all bad things to happen,
this will be the worst. 
"Earth, air, 
water and fire-
help me summon 
what I desire.
Answer my calling,
do as I ask.
Help me accomplish
this devilish task.
Bring a curse upon those
within my fire ring,
wrap this entire town
in your deadly wings.
All these mortals,
they are to eternally survive
but no one is to ever 
leave this town alive.
And all outsiders will die
upon entering these lands,
all natives will have to live
knowing that is how it stands.
They will be forced to live
in each others solitude.
Never again meeting a stranger-
and here it concludes."
Alone they will be 
suffering in sadness,
knowing they are responsible
for all this madness.
knowing they will be the cause
for the loss of the ones
who dare to challenge
the curse that I've done,
knowing no one can come
to set them free,
knowing they will never touch a strangers heart
for all eternity. 
The curse of loneliness
will see them to the end
and misery will be
their only friend. 
Let them all suffer 
for trying to end me,
let them all know
the power of my legacy.
In a flash I am back
in my sacred shrine.
I now know this act of vengeance 
was all mine.
Through generations I lived,
never knowing the truth,
never remembering the deeds 
committed in my youth.
I laugh at those defiant ones
daring to step on the cursed grounds, 
the ones that wish they had never set foot
inside that ancient town.
And at the very moment
that their poor soul is greeted by death,
they will forever see my ghostly face
in that momentary absence of breath.


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