Poem: Not a Normal Duke by Robin A Burrows

This poem is a response to the Writers Digest Wednesday poetry prompt.  The prompt for this Wednesday was to write a "normal" poem that plays with the idea of normality. "Not a Normal Duke" is set in my Vampiress Lessa story setting. The poem tells a little about the background of two of the story characters.

Not a Normal Duke

By Robin A. Burrows

Le' Sara never thought of him as a normal Duke.

He was much better than normal.

Dark wavy hair. Deep brown eyes.

Thoughtful and attentive.

A large estate left by the late Duke and Duchess -

not that she cared for that – but her parents did.

With a look, he could steal the breath

of every lady in the room.

And to ride in his carriage

was like a flight to Heaven.

But in retrospect, all of her perceptions

seemed as normal as sunrise and sunset.

Until that night

Until that kiss

Until that fright

On the carriage ride home

Hidden under a dark sky -

Passion, teeth and blood.

Too far; too late.

She discovered

He was not normal at all.

He was an abomination.

Cursed by God for eternity.

And now, so was she.

"You shall be my bride,"

he whispered as her mind swirled

down into a heavy darkness.

"My vampiress queen.

Together, we shall rule for eternity."

But even as an abomination,

Le' Sara wasn't a normal Duchess

and she would never be his Queen.

© Copyright 2011 Robin A. Burrows