The psychomanteum

a chamber, a crypt behind a door in
the back of a cellar

layered with smell of moist earth that
only dead men noses know

grimy stones holding dirt from swallowing
the man-made cavity

room of darkness never seeing light
beyond the cellar door

only infrequent candles warm the
stale damp chamber air

dim light radiant within enveloping
shadowy hunger and greed

into reflection, fire dances within
breath of shaking visitor

one who's walked the blurred path into
and beyond the mirrored veil

in chair and desire and eyes set upon
a lingering candlelit figure

exhale to extinguish the tiny flame
and into the obscure reflection

sudden dark heavily teases and tears at
straining pupils and eager ears

alone in silence and deprivation to trigger
a sense so used to, now missed

only a heightened inner lub-dub rings
out through waxy canals

slightly in widened eyes seep murky mists
of phosphorescence glow

in the yet deeper cavity of reflection does
the luminescent wisps grow

in the still deeper corridors of lub-dubbing
quickens the repetitious pulse

for fear and hope are the twisted rope
the visitor dares to teeter on

the two masters that spur the eyes to
consume all before them

in swift lub-dubs the breath ceases
as wisps unite and transfigure

a figure of light originating before the night
before dark, before shadow

copper the skin of a golden beastly face
and titanium flow of hair

sits opposite of the visitor trembling
in awe of the astral presence

the throne of silver thorns that slice
through the mirrored veil

raging fires flaring in the smoldering gray
abyss within the reflection

yet beastly face holds viper cast upon
the summoner of his presence

a smirk slithers across platinum lips
and into the piercing eyes

a gesture to ease racing lub-dubs, to return
a breath into starving lungs

eternity passes in the moment when he
and him dwell in their gaze

haze creeps with spidery webs as the
glowing astral being moves

to the visitor's rope of fear and hope
coiled around his beating throat

stands and is pulled toward without
refusal of the veil's call

outstretched, the luminous arm within
the silvery reflection haze

gaze fastened under lock and key and lips
between lub-dubs and breath

palms within and without draw near to
near touch to breach the veil