Renfield: A Poem
Veronica has poetry and short stories published in several literary journals. She holds an MA in Literature from American University.
Introduction
This poem is a part of a series of secular poetry I wrote when I first converted to Christianity from atheism/agnosticism, back in the summer of 2016.
I've always gravitated towards "dark" writing that doesn't quite cross into Horror, and as a Christian I've become even more fascinated by the battle between light (good) and darkness (evil). The only difference is that now, the "darkness" frustrates me rather than fascinates me. There is no hope there.
I chose the character Renfield from Bram Stoker's Dracula because I feel like he reflects most of us in a grotesque way. He tries to obtain life by consuming it, but this leads him on a trail of madness further and further into the darkness. It's a fruitless journey that leads to nothing but destruction. The real answer is not to consume life, but rather find and obtain the light of the world (Jesus Christ).
Renfield
Renfield likes to eat the flies
eat the flies
eat the flies
and spiders, birds, and cats
Consuming life, he felt alive
felt alive
felt alive
but light is what I want
So I will eat the fireflies
the fireflies
the fireflies
then torches, moons, and suns
They will try to stop me
they pretend to care
they lock me in the darkness
locked in Renfield's stare
Renfield and the lies of flies
lies of flies
lies of flies
his nightlight I will eat
with me he'll find no rest
He says he needs to find me
eat me
apply me
but my light he won't possess
© 2018 Veronica McDonald
