Refusal
a fantasy poem about denying prophecy, self-exploration, and choosing kindness even when the rest of the world believes you should do otherwise
Refusal / Zeta Ferrer
Born into a prophecy to be a hellish fire,
to take the world and burn it raw,
consumed by the desire
for rage and hurt and pain.
No soothing in a mother’s chest,
only reflection of averted gazes
in fear and shame, they force
the villain role upon me with ten horns.
Peaceful eyes cannot convince them,
nor the babe’s outstretched hand;
a child’s laughter sending shivers
down the spines of grown men.
Perhaps the breaking of the world
was in opposing them, in being the dawn
that rises over moonless nights.
The blade that slashes only weeds
never to draw another human’s blood.
To choose instead of killing
the kindness within a living heart.
To amplify it thousandfold, a disobedience,
against the beaten path.
An overcoming of oneself in other people’s minds.
A freedom, instead of an unexplored,
unquestioned villainous life.
Thank you for reading. Consider supporting Ink Marks & Paper Clumps by liking, subscribing or leaving a comment if you have found the poem resonated. You can find more fantasy-inspired poetry here. Other pieces to read if you enjoyed this one: Being the Fool and Wounds onto the Tender.
