The King in Yellow is a collection of short stories by Robert W. Chambers, published in 1895. The title takes its name from a fictional play, referenced in the first four short stories of the book. According to the author, anyone who reads the play will go mad with horror. The stories are said to have inspired the Cthulhu mythos, and are so chilling precisely because they leave so much to the imagination...
The King in Yellow
You leave this place with nothing but your name,
as swelling, spitting tendrils seal your fate.
Your thoughts, like starving serpents, undulate,
a crown of vipers laying vicious claim
to every former joy; your darkness framed
with tarnished golden halos. And their weight
may waste your mortal flesh as it stagnates.
The cat is killed, and chaos seeks to reign.
But serpents can be tamed with soothing sounds
and patience may recover what was lost.
I will remain your servant, on my oath,
and loosen all the ties that have you bound.
Around your neck, a pale ouroboros:
a symbol of fertility and growth.
LM
 |
| Artwork by RW Chambers (1895) |
No comments:
Post a Comment