The Fence in the Boy

Tristan Robert Lange

The rupture-red fountain
Shot upward fifteen feet,
An immense flow
That sky shot with
 
Punishing pressure.
 
But from where?
It was hard to see,
Other than that the stream,
Conical, flaring up and out,
Turning outward and down
In crimson rain.
 
Upon closer inspection,
The funnel-straw was formed
From fencing,
Pierced in a mound
And jetting up
In widening width.
 
The fencing,
Conical as it was,
Still allowed rough
Sanguine spray
Through porous grating.
 
Upon further advance,
The mound was moving,
Twitching tremorously—
 
It was a body,
It was human—
 
A boy’s bloat.
 
Getting close as comfort allowed,
I could see the eyes
Stitched open,
Bloody tears trailing
Down death’s cheek.
 
Beneath the nasal summit,
An abyss
With calcium peaks
And overhangs.
 
The fountain’s flood
Fell upon all beneath,
A fetid flow,
Clotted and chunky—
A coating of
Sanguinaccio.
 
Looking up,
These words could be seen,
Formed in the flowing fluid:
 
“Murder most malicious.”
 
Who’s murder could this be?
Drawing closer,
Ever so near,
The boy’s body appeared
To bear familiarity’s face.
 
For lying there,
In a horrific display
Upon the past’s threshing floor,
Was the visage of little me
Wishing I had
More.
 
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
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Comments +

Comments7

  • Cheeky Missy

    Sheesh, man! From whence spring these ghastly, macabre, devilish murmurs?! La dee. Superbly rendered with exceptional imagery and a devilish, intriguing poignancy. Thank you for sharing.

    • Tristan Robert Lange

      Yay! First comment! Indeed, this one fits all those descriptions. I figured I'd reemerge from vacation with bang! 🀣 I am glad it delivered, my dear friend. Thank you so much for your time and your analysis, which I deeply value! πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

    • Tony36

      Excellent write Tristan

      • Tristan Robert Lange

        Thank you so much, Tony! Glad it delivered! πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

        • Tony36

          You're welcome

        • Tony Grannell

          Hello Tristan,
          Engrossed, intrigued, beguiled and horrified as I read through this poem and then to discover it was you along as a boy on the trashing floor of your own past. As if composed out of a nightmare. You have a unique way with words, on edge poetry, as it were, holding the reader's attention with poetic acumen and the fierceness that can be found therein. A gifted poet, you are. Excellent!

          Do take care now,
          Tony.

          • Tristan Robert Lange

            Tony, your words truly humble me. Thank you for your in-depth read, your time, and your thoughtful analysis. You are a most talented poet, my friend, and hearing such encouragement from you genuinely inspires me. Thank you again, Tonyβ€”take care as well! πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

          • Poetic Licence

            This is like a nightmare coming to life, all the demons of your past congregating and tormenting, very dark and sad in context, but a gripping read, welcome back

            • Tristan Robert Lange

              Indeed. Thank you my friend for your time, feedback, and the warm welcome. It's good to be back. πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

              • Poetic Licence

                You are very welcome

              • sorenbarrett

                Bloody, gruesome, horrific it delivers a picture of terror but is far worse in the discovery. Nicely written

                • Tristan Robert Lange

                  Thank you Soren. So glad it delivered, my friend. I had to come back with a bang! 🀣 Thanks again. πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

                • orchidee

                  Sounds like someone's spontaneous combustion. lol. Maybe Popeye or Obi, in a way. πŸ™„πŸ€£

                  • Tristan Robert Lange

                    Oh...and how! That spinach I tell you. πŸ™„πŸ€£

                    • orchidee

                      Yes, we blame the spinach for it! lol.

                      • Tristan Robert Lange

                        Exactly! I always told me mum it was no good for me, see? And she wouldn't listen! But as soon as I got on my own I stopped and I don't have the problems those two seem to! 🀣

                        • orchidee

                          Eating up your greens, especially spinach?! hehe.

                        • arqios

                          Poor kid... could've been me at that age as well... when death became me. Powerful write T... and Justice has been slow at its heelsπŸ™πŸ»πŸ•ŠοΈ

                          • Tristan Robert Lange

                            Very, very slow indeed! Thank you, my friend! Glad it delivered and thank you for your time and thoughts. πŸ©ΈπŸŒ«οΈπŸ•³οΈπŸͺ“

                            • arqios

                              Most welcome mate πŸ™πŸ»πŸ•Š



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