"The Crypt Keepers List"

by Rache` Ford

This poem represents a place in my life where decisions had to be made and cemented. This is an acute insight into my life, my hometown, and my entity. I poured my bandages soul into expressing this passionate tragedy that I have witnessed and participated in.

I got an ugly complex, a thought most queer,

I am filled with interest, as others fill with fear.

We all start out on the bottom,

Which is a good place to be,

But few start out on top,

Causing untimely tragedy.

I have seen the top, there’s turbulent sky’s,

Those near and dear, seem to drop like flies.

Many of us welcomed it, at one time or another.

We became fearless, as our families had to suffer.

When we went to high school, we all had a plan,

To stay at the bottom as long as we can.

But we were invincible, we just laughed when we barely missed his grip,

But getting stuck near the top, will eventually make you sick.

For about a half a decade I lived near the top,

Asking myself, who’s the next one to drop?

It took close calls, hard time, and divine intervention,

To figure out our place, and begin our ascension.

Only when we step out of that deadly circle,

Do we turn back and see the destruction.

Realize the zombies already came.

Their eyes are dead and their minds can’t function.

Their bodies are ravaged and emaciated,

Their willpower is broken,

Their humanity is non-existent,

Their innocence is stolen.

I know you keep hearing me say they,

As I speak of this tragedy.

Yet not so long ago, that was you, and me.

Here in our hometown, it’s the black tar plague,

The youth here is already standing on its last leg.

There’s one in every family, but here it’s two or three,

Like an opiate wildfire, it spreads almost contagiously.

Leaves many children orphaned, Scared for years to come,

Just ‘cuz their parents finally made it to number one.

With only a glimpse of his sithe most of our hearts would race.

But when you’re deep in addiction, you get used to seeing his face.

The face of death is a nightmare, impossible to forget,

And the guilt of this hell is an unimaginable debt.

You may think god will save you,

But we are not in line for the rapture,

We are only guided by temptation.

That will only lead to the Crypt Keepers capture.

With many losses and painful memories,

I evaded him by just a mile.

My vigilance was only kept,

With the witness of my newborns smile.

 
Staff