October 2025 – Page 7 – elancharan gunasekaran

the sirens of the deep seas memorize each wreck and sing a melody of tide and storm

i’ve known a few in my lifetime of those who wait and watch making records of the forest grim as it births fog and mistborne secrets guarded by ethereal wraiths

remind this body the stories of seasons past and perhaps this flesh will learn to live again

to the trained eye only boats drift safely in dark waters along undisturbed lunar veins

dragonflies drag halos through the mud as the debaucherous croaks peak to the morning light

soldiers wrapped in radiance march towards the dying star in an attempt to end its suffering

she carries a lantern not of light but of voices that hum and lead the way in the dark: follow the voice please the light is divine’s end

autumn after dark dreams catch fire the body wakes in sweat and tears ready to fight but the demons are long gone

the sun’s rays forgotten in its place a circle of umbra pulses to the dark ones who will worship its madness

into the pit of lightning serpents the midnight children circle playfully and toss bones of plagued beasts