The gears that grind
and cogs that turn
steam powered automaton

(Tic! Toc! Grandfather clock;
Watch: pendulum swing to and fro:
grinding gears!)

A step: a thud: an echo
This half machine monster moves
(yet the other is unknown)

(Wind the coils!
Turn the shaft!:
GriNDiNG GeaRS!)

What unearthly engineer
Tamed such a ferocious thing
trapped in such a mechanic trap?!

(Lift the lever!
Crank the cylinder!:
GRINDING GEARS!)

A screech: a shout: an exclamation
A pull: a strain: an ulcer
The machine half moves

(The pipes are bursting!
Abandon all posts!:
grIndIng gEArs!)

Falter. Falling.
A
L
L
E
N
One fell swoop
A simple
f
a
u
x

p
a
s

(The hull is compromised!
THE SHIELDS ARE BREECHED!:
GRINDING GEA- TEETH!)

A crack: a fissure: an abyss beneath
The machine half dessicated
DESTROYED!

The hair covered monstrosity
Half-man: Half-Bull:
me before
it stands

(LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA,
VOI CH'INTRATE!
Βρυγμός!)

The dark bursting forth consumes all light
A labyrinth inside shadows
(They offer no securities):
Reckless Abandon I Am In Plethora

(We’re doomed!
We’re Lost!:)
We aren’t turning back now!
WE CAN NEVER TURN BACK!
(GRINDING TEETH!)

That dark is not darkness
Unknown fear
-of-
Fear unknown

(UNFATHOMABLE! That growl!
What has been unleashed?!:
Grinding teeth!)

THE SHADOW MOVES::IT CONSUMES

An abolishment: an eradication: a destruction
Everything pure and plain:
Everything wicked and profane:
Everything.

(This beast! We thought!
We thought we knew!
We ignored what we knew: new ignorance!
gRiNdInG tEeTh!)

It grinds its teeth:
It grinds its gears:
It grinds its shadow:
It grinds no more:
It waits in prowl.

_____________

Part inspired by Mark Z Danielewski's House of Leaves (oh, if I could only make that blue) and part inspired by my geeky D&D wonderings.