unsure what had compelled me to return.
I'd never thought, I'd never wanted to
come back to such a place as this, to these
unwelcome memories. My mother's voice,
her visage in a dream had summoned me.
My apprehension was not strong enough
to stay this visit. I could not avoid
this midnight forest. Here, my steady tread
surprised me. Moonless mist-enshrowded lake,
familiar forest floor (though many years
had passed), warm Autumn night, smooth rounded rocks
along the shore conspired to comfort me,
yet could not quell the dread that raced my pulse.
I saw her then, a haze-fuzzed formless glow.
The gentle plash, occasional against
the rocks, did naught to eae my heart. As I
approached, her form took shape...her floating gown
spread soft around her knees, and in my head
she spoke: "Your father comes tonight. I've called
you both." Without my lips, I sasked her, "Why?"
Though no surprise, her answer chilled my bones:
"You are to take a rock and crush his skull."
My breath escaped my lungs, I could not breathe.
"I've dawdled far too long, and will not wait
for him to die in peace and leave me here
eternally. In violence, his death
releases me from this unholy place."
"Why me?" I begged. "Why can't you seek your own
release?" and knew before her answer filled my brain.
"I would, my child, if any rock would fit
my hand. I wish there were another way,
another one to lift the rock for me."
My spiral mind could scarce take in her words.
I stumbled back a couple steps and caught
my breath. A heavy step and rustling brush
pronounced a string of curses as from the depths
of Hell itself. My father's fury at
the water's edge stood facing Mother's form
and bellowed, "You! What arrogance gives you
the right to call me from my place to here,
this fetid tarn? You filthy whore! I drowned
you once before. And now I'll do't again.
Lie down and spread your legs and die with me
inside your gut as you did then!" He rushed
into the lake and stumbled on his face,
sputtered to his knees and never saw
the rock I hurled at him. It caromed off
his crown. He twisted 'round and tumbled b ack
into the water, then rose, unsteady, bent,
his hate and water dripping from his limbs
and face, restoring equilibrium.
His evil, bulging eyes were fixed on me
as recognition of himself began
to spread across his face. My arms raised high
above my head brought down the rock
with all my force against his brow. I felt
and heard his skull collapse into his brain
and watdhed him topple back into the lake.
The glow was gone. The only sound my breath,
and pulse. Inside my head, my mother's voice,
"Thank you, my child. You've set me free."
I fell onto the forest floor and wailed
aloud to her, "And who will set me free?"
Her soft reply told me, "Your father's blood
flows in my veins as well. My sister, you
are free alreadhy...you have freed us both."