MOTHER:I SAY THE SKY IS FALLING DOWN!
Let whatever angels maybe
Make him forget this loathsome war
My son won't be earthed before me
FATHER: He won't be earthed at all say I
He's beaten all foes all the odds
With war comes immortality
From hence forth go fight like the gods.
SON: When the bullies and brats hit me
You said I was perfect, a prize
When the taunters beat me to shame
You said 'like the gods you will rise.
Well, Years have passed and I've grown strong
Like my blade my mind's sharp and clean
My teacher at the King's Army
Says I'm the best he's ever seen
I have fought monsters and demons
I've never been mangled or clawed
Your prophecy has come to light
I am not god-like, I am God.
MOTHER: I was merely telling a tale
The context of these words is lost
Don't misunderstand my meaning
It'll come with breath taking cost.
You are a born fighter and star
In competition you're the best
But have you taken a man's life?
Watched eyes close for eternal rest?
War is a siren's snaring song
Played with swords and blood for the notes
And the prize for dancing with her?
Quartets of blades played upon throats
You don't truly fight for honor
You fight for popularity
You're already the kingdom's star
Find joy in being rarity
SON: I don't care about rarity
Rarity is consolation
I want to be legendary
Nothing will sate my fixation
My fighting has bought home and health
That is only the beginning
You will be swimming in riches
The sky is yours when I'm winning
I have only fought in contests
I'm a beginner in battle
But I'm the best fighter around
I will slaughter them like cattle.
FATHER: I could not be more proud of you
Leader of the King's elite force.
Appointed by the king himself
You should be proud of your life's course
Like my father and his before
I bequeath my sword to my son
My heart is heavy, still I'm sure
You shall burn brighter than the sun
MOTHER: The sky is falling are you blind?!
It falls on homes and hearts like hail
It bruises bones bodies and brains
Damn this terror this evil gale!
FATHER: Yes, we know, the sky has fallen
You've said it many times before
We know you're scared we understand
You've been shaken down to your core.
SON: Does she know I went to the Fates?
FATHER: No! His winning has been foretold
SON: Their heads will rolls to Hell's grim gates!
FATHER AND SON:(SING)Their once hard bones will bend
To Hell's grim gates will send
Their heads will roll
So here's your toll
Your women we'll attend!
MOTHER: (during song) Stop! Stop! No more! Love not this gore!
I did not want to reveal this
For fear of witches penalty
But last fortnight while a slumber
Did I dream This reality!
I dreamt of this entire month
I saw the ending of the war
I saw the tides of battle turn
I saw you dripped in blood and gore
It horrifies me to say this
But it must be for it is true
You were but flesh upon the ground
A spear had pierced your heart straight through.
SON: This can only be but nonsense
I've fought much greater enemies
Come let me show you all my skills
I am like the great Hercules
FATHER: it's not just nonsense but treason
This dream is not, will not come true
This nightmare is the seed of doubt
A seed that had its chance and grew.
MOTHER: Son that is a very good thought
Prove your great skill by fighting me
You look shocked. I've swung swords before.
I will be your first enemy.
SON: What?! Mom! Don't be ridiculous.
How could you think I could hurt you?
FATHER: You're no foe! I won't allow it.
I fear her mind has gone cuckoo.
MOTHER: Why not fight? Why not allow it?
Your deeds have thrashed my soul thus far
This is my last lesson for you
War drowns the soul like lungs to tar.
FATHER: how could you tempt him to kill you?
Are you possessed? Tell me you lie
Unravel this riddle for me
By your sons hand you want to die?
MOTHER: Swiftly swing your sword soldier son
Split and slit and slice and sever
Listen to this sad sows song
Strike soundly son if so clever.
SON: How dare you goad me like a child
I've stood on the backs of giants
Foes tremble when hearing my name
I won't be one of Death's clients
Women fall to their fucking knees
Because they know that I'm around
They want me to swing my sword too
To bury in their Venus mound
I am the hero of this world
But I'm also Death's employer
It's my call on who lives or dies
Because I'm this world's destroyer
How could you not be proud of me?
Don't you see that I need to fight?
Unconditional love and faith
That is a kins god given right.
MOTHER: You lust for love like a sick dog
You perform for petty applause
You pathetic pompous peacock
Popularity is your cause.
I have no mother's love for thee
I recant all knowledge of you
You are but flesh upon the ground
Your body to my heart is new
Now! Now call me your enemy!
FATHER: No. You could never be an enemy. I have -- we both have faithfully and contently loved you for years. Whatever evil you have contracted it won't trick us into hating you. Even if you did have a dream about our son dying that is by all account normal. You're his mother it's natural to worry. But how can I believe that this vision of yours is what will actually happen? Should I match madness for madness? Or should I side with what is sensible and say that you are ill? That you are diseased. Our son is a prodigal warrior. You're more likely to lose him through this venomous word vomit than you are to him fighting in a war. We must leave before we are subjected to any more poison. Come Son. Let's leave this stranger.
MOTHER: (side) Some putrid weight sits on my chest
It's as empty as rotted wood
Have my words over stepped my cause?
No, this is for the greater good.
MOTHER: Our hearts must be one in the same,
For our hearts bleed from the same cut.
But If you leave my blood will spill
With no true lid to keep it shut.
I beg you to heed my warning
Realize the wisdom from my plea
This is your last warning: Don't go.
(PAUSE)
Husband please come to console me
I have lost my son. My baby.
The poison in my fangs is gone
Or else it's seeped into my bones
Whereby my soul it feeds upon.
(THE HUSBAND RELUCTANTLY GOES TO CONSOLE HIS WIFE. THE WIFE KICKS HIM TO THE GROUND AND AIMS THE SWORD AT HER HUSBANDS NECK. THE HUSBAND SCREAMS IN PAIN BUT DOES NOT LOOK AFRAID. HE IS SURPRISED BUT SOLEMN. SAD.)
SON: Vile despicable abortion!
You godless unabsolv'ed filth
How dare you attack my father
Your grave with your loose hand I'll tilth.
FATHER: Don't speak to your mother like that.
I know your mom she'll never quit
Fulfill her wish to have a fight
Show her the brunt of your blade bit
If this is what she insists on
then you will respect her request.
Why are you pacing animal?
Cut out the tongue that does protest.
Was that an empty threat you made?
She wants Death from Oedipal wrath
It's grotesque, but she's still your mom.
Christen the start of your war path.
SON: My resilience is broken
The devil wants to play a game
then for its game we must prepare
To bare it's horrors without shame.
I'll fight you with one condition.
When my sword is forced on your skin
When you lose to our fated fight
You remember this is your sin
The scars you will forever bare
Will scream like the harpies of hell
Remember that I loved you once
What I feel now I cannot tell.
MOTHER: This I know and this I will bare.
This I know and this I will bare.
This I know and this I will bare.
This I know and this I will bare.
(THROUGH HER FINAL LINES THEY READY THEIR FIGHT. SWORDS IN HAND. THE MOTHER MAYBE TRIES TO HURT THE SON BUT THE SON HAS OBVIOUS TALENT. THE MOTHER IS NOT WITHOUT HER SKILL HOWEVER. THROUGHOUT THE FIGHT THE MOTHER DEFENDS HERSELF. BUT AT ONE POINT THE SON THRUSTS AND THE MOTHER LETS HER SWORD DOWN. THE STRIKE LANDS. THEN HE DIGS THE SWORD FARTHER INTO THE WOUND.)
SON: Nothing. I feel... I feel nothing.
© Copyright 2018 Jack Grayson. All rights reserved.
Booksie Popular Content
-
Shelves: 36
-
Shelves: 38
-
Shelves: 15
-
Camp Dragon I: The Tree of Dragons
Shelves: 18
-
Shelves: 8
-
Shelves: 20
Other Content by Jack Grayson
Poem / Poetry
Essay / Editorial and Opinion
Short Story / Flash Fiction
Emmett Cohl