Reapers Delight

Reapers Delight

(1)

Crimson death! Tucked in at her breast,

She gave me some gold and promised the rest.

With cloak and hat, she ducked from my sight,

Melting as black into blacker night.

(2)

I followed close what she was about,

A tempest within her and brewing without.

A cold wind howled as electric rain

Overdrew her form again and again.

(3)

At the King’s manor, at the great door,

Her blue eyes ran the crowded floor.

“Damn them both!” from under her breath

As she carried in her rival’s death.

(4)

Blackened soul beneath Ivory mask

So no one should suspect her task.

A liquid dagger, sure not to miss,

Sure to part their jagged kiss.

(5)

Husband and harlot entwined in a dance,

The messenger of death betook her chance.

At their table, with flushéd face,

She took the glass from off its place.

(6)

As scant scarlet drop lets loose its flask,

A neurotic smile breaks from the mask.

She swirled it round, its color bright,

Sweet revenge all hers tonight.

(7)

The glass returned, the mask in place

And she once more a pillar of grace.

She strolled unseen to a secreted room

To observe from afar the other one’s doom.

(8)

Sweet lips of honey touching the brink

And the other one took of her last drink.

Clutching her throat, she fell to the floor.

Joy at last! she had settled her score.

(9)

Ah, but revenge! Its own price to pay,

If only she knew the end of her day.

For an angry man spied her yellow hair

As she, in her flight, rounded the stair.

(10)

I followed them both into the storm,

His angry shadow, her hooded form.

Into the forest, her tiny feet flew.

Where she was going how well he knew!

(11)

He watched through the pane as she went in,

Into the arms of HER lover again!

Her long yellow hair wrapped thrice around

And Porphyria lay dead on the ground.

(12)

A violent end, for sure his plan,

Yet brought about by another’s hand.

An enemy dead by her lover gone mad,

And his true love no more to be had.

(13)

A small golden vial, from out my store,

He took from his pocket at the great door.

He swallowed its droplet with tilted head,

And then he too fell quite dead.

(14)

Twas three in a row, an eventful night.

Can you imagine the reapers delight?

Just put the gold back in that chest over there

And tell me friend, was my harvest fair?