The city sleeps, a concrete husk,
Where shadows crawl and silence sucks
The breath from lungs, a chilling sigh,
As fog descends, a mournful cry.
A woman waits, alone and cold,
Her story spun, a tale untold,
Of love's embrace, then bitter sting,
The ghost of him, a haunting thing.
He promised her, a lover's vow,
To steal her away, from here and now,
To realms unknown, where shadows play,
And moonlight paints a ghostly gray.
But years have passed, the seasons flown,
His promises, like seeds, now sown,
In fertile fields of memory's soil,
Where hope has died, and fear takes toil.
The knock, a sound that breaks the spell,
A voice familiar, whispers well,
"Come with me, my love, it's time to flee,
To where our souls are meant to be."
Her heart leaps, a wild, frantic beat,
A flicker of hope, bittersweet,
But reason whispers, cold and stark,
A phantom's call, a whispered mark.
The air grows thick, a heavy shroud,
The room contracts, a claustrophobic cloud,
He stands before her, eyes aglow,
A spectral lover, from the depths below.
His touch is ice, his voice a sigh,
He speaks of love, a haunting lie,
He pulls her close, a chilling embrace,
Her fear and longing, a desperate chase.
She fights, she struggles, but in vain,
He holds her fast, a prisoner of pain,
His lips descend, a ghostly kiss,
Her life, a flicker, a fading abyss.
The city wakes, the sun ascends,
But she is gone, her story ends,
A whispered name, a chilling sigh,
The demon lover, who took her by.
Literary Techniques
* Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to create a sense of atmosphere, particularly the descriptions of the city, fog, and the ghostly lover.
* Symbolism: The city, shadows, and fog symbolize the darkness and uncertainty of the woman's situation. The demon lover represents the allure of the unknown and the dangers of unfulfilled desires.
* Juxtaposition: The poem juxtaposes the woman's longing for her lost love with her fear of the demon lover, highlighting the conflict within her.
* Alliteration: The poem employs alliteration throughout, adding a sense of rhythm and emphasis, for example, "shadows crawl and silence sucks" and "a spectral lover, from the depths below."
* Repetition: The repetition of phrases like "the demon lover" and "a haunting thing" emphasizes the persistent nature of the demon lover's presence.
* Personification: The city is personified as a "concrete husk," giving it a sense of life and agency.
* Metaphor: The comparison of hope to "seeds" and memory to "fertile fields" creates a metaphorical landscape for the woman's emotions.
* Free Verse: The poem utilizes free verse to create a more natural and flowing style, mirroring the uncertainty and intensity of the woman's experience.
These techniques combine to create a chilling and evocative poem that captures the unsettling atmosphere of "The Demon Lover" and explores the themes of love, loss, and the allure of the unknown.