The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Ghosts of the Grasslands
by A.F. Stewart

Call to me, oh sunlit savannahs, oh plains of desolation.

Call to me from blood soaked ground and smoking ruin.
I can see you.

Your shadow that once roamed, that lived as king.
Shall I tremble as you roar, stalk on soft padded paws?

Shall I bless the dry winds as they blow you the scent of prey?
Or shall I cry lonely tears of what we have lost, you and I?
We traded life for death, laughter for the expanse of time.

We burned it all for a cold, cold universe.
And now we live with the haunting memories,
The ghosts of who we were and all their screams.
You alone give me comfort.

You, of the haughty stare and the regal essence.
You do not judge what we did.
You understand. You know death.

So call to me oh, sweet, sweet ghost.
Call to me and show me the days we abandoned…

Fiction © Copyright A.F. Stewart
Image courtesy of Marge Simon

More from A.F. Stewart:

Horror Haiku and Other Poems

Words linger. . . In the darkness of shadows, in the distant screams. They whisper past the drip, drip of blood. The strange beauty of words hide, waiting for you. Embrace the horror. Venture past safe reality, into the world of terror told in verse. Horror Haiku and Other Poems brings forth surreal dread and spins it in artistic countenance. From small chilling bites of poetry, to murky morsels of fright, come find where the words haunt you, where they live and die.

Available for FREE on Instafreebie!

About the Artist, Marge Simon:

A writer-artist since the mid-1980’s, Marge Simon has illustrated numerous poetry collections for Sam’s Dot Publications/Alban Lake; as well as multiple print magazines. She illustrated covers and interiors of every issue of Niteblade (Rhonda Parrish, editor). Currently she illustrates for Lorelei Signal, Carol Hightshoe, editor.  Check out her art galleries at www.margesimon.com

Marge is also one of the Ladies of Horror who writes for this challenge.