A madman lives alone in a graveyard as he loses his mind. Of hope - there is none. None - that is, until some miracle-man shows up...

Orpheus Sings

31 - Prose - Madman

Death visits a man lying on his death-bed. But are the two foes? Or friends?

30 - Prose - Welcome Death My Friend

Running an efficient operation in Hell is a ticklish business - at the best of times. So - imagine the hell to pay when Hell itself is invaded. From without.

29 - Prose - Harrowing Hell

Lost in the suburban maze, a young man asks a passerby for directions. After all, passers-by are human beings too, ready to assist one another as the need arises. Right? Right. Well, except if passers-by aren’t always what they seem…

28 - Prose - Slander-Devil

Merlin confronts the druid power: speaking out against its traditional use of human sacrifice. But Merlin goes further: openly challenging the druids to a trial of strength. Has Merlin's mocking gone too far? Can one man overcome the infernal powers that answer the druids' bidding?

27 - Prose - Merlin's Stand

King Arthur summons Uther to arms - urgently. Along with all his men. But Uther is tired of war - although he grimly acknowledges its necessity. But - will there ever be an end to battles? Does all the incessant warfare merely signify a dying kingdom?

26 - Prose - Call to Arms

When the Sea-Wolves fall upon the coast, Caer Avalon strengthens its walls, lays in stores, and summons its men to arms. But are strong walls and sharp swords enough to repel the fierce raiders from across the sea?

25 - Prose - Once A King

The Ruins were home to the gods - so they said. But what other powers now dwell in the ruins: centuries after the gods have fled?

24 - Prose - The Ruins

Farinor is orphaned by the Fever, and raised by the kindly Wiggins' family. But Farinor is half-Faerie blood: his destiny is sundered from those of other mortal men. What adventures must Farinor undergo before he finally understands what his Faerie-kind demand from him?

23 - Prose - In the Land of Faerie

A human soul embarks on a journey across time and space to probe the mysteries of being. What new secrets will it reveal upon reawakening?

22 - Prose - The Star Maker

Why are the heavens suspended, on pillars of coruscant blue? And why are the clouds hanging airborne like shrouds Metamorphosing all the time too? Why are sable heavens so star-filled? The numberless suns in dark sky? With galaxies whirling, rotating unfurling - One day I should like to know why. Where are the storerooms of snowstorms? What are the measures of hail? Who has second-sight? And where lives the light? Why do seasons progress without fail? What words have the winds in the mountains? What language do rains chatter by? Which paths underground do the streams move around - On that day, I should like to know why. What do all the animals speak of? What say all the angels around? What fields in heaven will to us be given? What wonders are there to be found? When will I travel the universe? How many stars live and then die? Do aliens roam? Or is mankind alone? Either way, I should like to know why. How do souls knit to their bodies, deep inside their own mother's womb? From where come souls rife to give us new life? Where do they live beyond the tomb? Sub-particles ad infinitum, inner worlds infinitely - Go smaller together, inside us forever - And in heaven I'll understand why.

21 - Poem - Why?

After death, I shall dance on a sunbeam, And turn pirouettes in the air. Like the angels my body will move like a dream When in heaven I make my home there. I will climb up the rainbow one morning, And build castle-clouds in the sky. Aetherial battlements swelling and soaring And cloud-ships to move around by. One day I will scoot down a sun flare, And swim in the heart of the sun. And flame salamanders will come close and stare At their strange visitor who has come. For my spirit will blaze like a star-burst. Immortal, it never will die. For Jesus will free me from Adam's old curse And at last I will learn the whole “WHY?”.

20 - Poem - When I Die

Stanza 1: In the prison of my mind my madness kept me wholly chained So I knew not kith nor kindred, nor cared whereabouts I dwelt. My strength increased by tenfold when my anger was enflamed These twins – anger and madness – all I felt.

19 - Poem - Madman

Stanza 1: In times ago among the stars a pair of angels walked Talking between themselves about the creatures being made. For they had seen great mysteries – about these both them talked. And what High God was doing made the subject that they sayed.

18 - Poem - Angel-Work

Stanza 1: “You've come for me – O Death, my friend? So finally – come for me? I loved my life. I love my death. So take my final faltering breath. For mortal things have mortal end This I have come to see.”

17 - Poem - Welcome Death - My Friend

This is an original collection of short stories and poetry by antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com

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Orpheus Sings

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