Antinous' Ring
Three Poems
by J. Russell Schneider
Dr. Pare
The church bell tolls,
Another passing.
From my window
I see him,
Waving,
Laughing,
Tapping on every door,
To homes
Long since abandoned.
It is no secret
Who he is,
For the wide-brimmed hat
And crooked nose
Give him away,
The good doctor
Pays a visit,
Noting,
Nodding,
Checking on every sore.
In the alley,
That dry cackle
Trumpets his return,
The scents of wet leather
And mint, confirms our appointment,
Dr. Pare is here,
Poking,
Cutting,
Studying me some more.
The Man
He came to town
Upon a rusted horse,
Through the streets
He wandered,
Through our young
He waded.
We shouted for absolution,
Promising penance,
Yet, the man still rode
Through moonlit mist
Atop naive skulls,
His personal macadam.
But we were not conquered
Through war and disease,
No! We participated,
Offered up one another,
Gave the man,
What he rode in for.
Unlikely Kin
Amidst the clash of
Tooth and steel,
I rise to the
Clamor of hoof
And flame.
Beast and serpent
Quarrel under
Crowded banners,
Thrashing in the mud.
As I watch
The makeshift standards
Fall upon their heads,
These wicked creatures
Turn and shriek,
“Brother! All is lost!”
J. Russell Schneider is a published poet who delves into the darkest corners of the psyche. He finds whimsy in the macabre and ghoulishness in the fanciful. Schneider’s poetry has been published by Wayfinder, a fan magazine based on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Three-Line Poetry, Jitter Press, Prolific Press, and Coffin Bell. Most of his work embraces fantasy, horror, and noir elements. He currently lives near Seattle, Washington. You can visit him @wretchedpoet on Bluesky.