In fevered sleep there came to me
a strange, disturbing dream;
sick charnel visions of the damned
to make a sane man scream.
Dark squat shapes in tattered rags
were clawing at the ground.
Emptying graves in the old churchyard
to feast on corpses found.
Inside the chapel, from a rope,
hung the poor, old parish priest.
While canine teeth obscenely chewed
upon a hellish feast.
This dream recalled a canvas scene,
lifelike and damnably vivid.
It created scandal at the Boston Art Club,
making the critics livid.
Pickman was the artist's name
upon which, he brought disgrace.
A genius inspired by God knows what,
who vanished without a trace.
Copyright 1997 Ron Shiflet
First Appearance: Nightscapes #2
First Print Appearance: IMELOD #7
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