Ritual

by Jakob Angerer

It wakes when he does,
after a night of rotting
beneath his bed
its groping tentacles
paused, reaching for his head

it follows him throughout the day
and he hears it growling
low and prowling,
lurking around every corner
waiting for smiles and hope
to feed upon, chanting;
bring him to his knees
unless he prays in threes

slimy black tentacles reach up
from the plughole in the sink
and he retches from the stink
as they grip his face to force
him to meet eyes with the abyss

when night comes it moves faster
and he’ll hear it climbing the stairs,
heaving and belching,
wet and squelching--
closer and closer
he shuts his eyes
praying praying praying
he’ll be free in his dreams.

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Jakob Angerer is a student from the Wirral. He has been writing poetry since childhood, and he cites nature and melancholy as his inspirations.