A Tale of Truth

A bearer of true omens he wished to be,

However, for his demeanor belittled was he,

Renowned he was never, you would’ve thought him

A kooky, olden being with a wit rather dim.

Dare not disparage his decrepit disguise,

For his wisdom surpasses, what you see, your demise.

But, lo and behold, for a tale of truth I was told.

I noticed his figure and stood in great awe,

Bare black rumpled plumage, a beak of hate and rough claws,

Tilted his head, revealed his left eye of doom,

Reflecting a dark future and the ominous moon,

A deep raucous croak then emerged from his build,

“To my forest you’ve come, why the rest you have killed?”

Asked he, lo and behold, where this tale ends no one knows.

“From the barren land, can you blame me to flee?”

“Your ignorant endeavor is as foolish can be,

Consider my mount, to the peak you have climbed,

Observe right and left, the ruin down yonder, behind,

In search of new land, glimpse of hope, you pretend,

The destruction, my friend, to which you add and append,

Won’t lo and behold unfold, unless this tale is told.”

“Why should I trust you, foul bird, sitting up high?

Solutions are many, the end not possibly nigh.”

He screeched and laughed, his ramage punctured my ears,

“I know more of earth’s riches; I advise you to fear

Depleted resources, for riddle me this,

How do you live off land, where food nor water exist?”

But, lo and behold, is this but a tale that is told?

“Sources evermore scarcer, finite, you see,

Whatever you may think, believe this wasteland to be,

Your habits will finally put it to rest,

Salute to the horror, a world’s decay at its best!

Pass on this message, this a tale you might call,

Then perhaps you’re the most foolish, most foolish of all.”

Lo and behold, you should wish this tale remained but told.

***

Anika K. Clausen writes poems and short stories that entertain the dark corners of the mind while alluding to the masked realities of today. She is a multilingual writer from Denmark with an MA in English and German linguistics and literature. Her work has been published by the Yard: Crime Blog, Vine Leaves Press and Wingless Dreamer, and she is currently working on a collection of short stories. Find her at akclausen.com, on Instagram @anika.kclausen or on Bluesky @akclausen.bsky.social.