Welcome to the seventeenth entry in my series of song-inspired poems! I will admit, this one has a bit of a dual inspiration – I’ve had vampires on the brain recently (playing through Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines again, haha), but it was also very much inspired by this week’s song, ‘Party All the Time’ by Eddie Murphy as well, so I hope you enjoy this one!
First Poem In This Series: To Witness, To Behold, inspired by ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ by Tears For Fears
Previous Poem In This Series: A Hypothetical Expert, inspired by ‘Werewolves of London’ by Warren Zevon
The Undead Youth Of Today
You welcomed her into the fold, yes–
as was your curse-given right, yes–
I am not disputing from whence she came,
or perhaps better wording would be from whom;
you have made your feelings on that–
the truth, yes, as you have reminded us
repeatedly, on this fine evening–
well, no one can claim your complaint
is at all dubious in its wording,
shall we put it that way?
Traditionally, yes, it would be expected
for the young one to follow the elder;
I am sure we all, gathered here, remember
the years we spent at our elders’ sides,
learning the manner in which to live in nights
that are now long gone–no, I really must protest,
you see, I think this is where the fundamental
issue lies, my good sir, I really do.
We may be eternally unchanging, in many ways,
but the world does not lie dormant at our feet.
Perhaps, if she had been taken under your wing
a few centuries ago, not even a great many,
then she would act as you appear to wish her to–
we may argue over the reasoning for this great change,
this shift in mortal–and immortal–attitudes,
but I fear it shall not lead to a meaningful conclusion,
and, as such, I must lead us onwards–my good sir,
I’m afraid I must demand that you sit and listen,
even if your young one refuses the same command–
Des, do you want to start a blood feud over this?
Now, if we may continue–while we may debate
the issues that the good sir has brought to the table,
I do not think we have the capacity to demand–
well, yes, I do agree, but there are guidelines,
and then there are laws, and the differences–
well, it was your brilliant idea to wait until the 2000s
to bring a new undead into unlife, wasn’t it?
Have you seen the books, the motion pictures?
Is it any–nevermind, that is all besides the point.
Frankly, I’m of half a mind to dismiss this issue–
No, Des, I’m sorry, but if your word and the curse
cannot keep her in your crypt of an evening–
well, I must admit, I am a little in the dark,
if you’ll excuse the humour, on what these…
‘nightclub’ establishments are, specifically,
but if she finds them to be adequate hunting grounds,
then perhaps she should be allowed to attend them,
given that she appears to be maintaining secrecy–
perhaps you should join her, my good sir,
if the matter truly worries you so much.
This world is forever old, and forever new;
to exist within it, so must we be, too.
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Oskar Leonard 