The Eye of Goddah

[Author’s Note]

Before this challenge was announced I was already keeping a record of some very strange dreams I had experienced over the course of many weeks. I then compiled them into what turned out to be quite an odd yarn. It is composed of scribbles on scraps of paper, convoluted evocations, and notes on my phone from midnight memories after waking. The names of the characters are ridiculous but I stuck with them nonetheless, many of the details appear somewhat nonsensical, and the plot feels to me like the culmination of a thousand diegesis that live rent-free inside my head. So now, thanks to this challenge, I have taken my story and turned it into a poem. Enjoy.

***

Smokestacks loom in the distance

Churning out clouds that are noxious

Hundreds of years of existence

Turning the Earth to a carcass

Long gone are azure skies

Replaced with orange and with green

We’ve been fed nothing but lies

With little food to be seen

The animal life is now twisted

Malformations of what once had been

Roaming a land that is blistered

Taking their vengeance on men

Trees stand as hollow shells

Skeletal hands reaching skyward

Shadows of their former selves

Out from the grave uninvited

As for other flora or fauna

There is none that exist

Save for the Eye of Goddah

That rules with an iron fist

High above like a cold, dead star

Putrid flesh and pure domination

Seeing all that is near and far

Watching all operations

In the factory we all dwelt

Slaves to those in power

Day and night we did smelt

And The Eye did naught but scour

Alongside us were the Architects

Androids who had once been men

Once their transition had taken effect

They could never go back again

With piercing eyes glowing yellow

And a body made of steel

Forceful commands they did bellow

And punishments they did deal

I desired no more than to be free

Though I knew not the word

I concocted a plan for us to flee

But The Eye would have to be blurred

I told my friends I desired to run

To escape our fate that bound

I was not the only one

For they all gathered around

First was Tim the Spine

Gaunt for all of his sharing

He gave his food and his time

For he possessed a heart so caring

Then was Fuzzy Riddles

An enigma covered in fur

At rude comments he would bristle

For he heard many a slur

Janie was next to embolden

With hair dark as night

Her dress pristine and golden

Skin as pale as moonlight

Däj beheld me solemnly

Eyes of gray and locks of red

She agreed very cautiously

By her smile I was misled

Nodding in reluctant agreement

Lumberwatch so lanky and tall

He possessed a unique talent

Of any memory he could recall

Zeke and Zugg who shared a face

Both pining for adventure

Agreed wholeheartedly to join the race

They would never leave each other

Around our table we devised

While eating a meal so meager

Our actions would be televised

So others wouldn’t be eager

The Eye did close but once a year

For maintenance and repair

The mix of flesh and tech so queer

Would momentarily lose its glare

The day came when The Eye was shut

Glitching black like a broken screen

It’s connection to the factory cut

We could bolt and not be seen

Into the wasteland we all fled

Under the cover of night

Darkness filled us all with dread

Strange sounds did give us fright

We met a man with mystic power

Fuiegzcut was his name

He danced around a piercing tower

Speaking riddles was his game

He spoke words I had never heard

And ideas I could not grasp

Chanting from underneath a hood

With a voice full of rasp

“All lay dead before their birth

Destined now to never wake

Their faces cold, devoid of mirth

Cries of help we did forsake”

“Voices could be heard before

In the gentle gloaming hour

Now all is still forevermore

Around the silent tower”

While the stranger spoke incantations

Striding ‘round the tower clockwise

He stormed about without cessation

Drawing symbols in the skies

We all listened as he ran

His robes flowing as he passed

“You can’t outrun the Locky No-No Man

For he is much too fast!”

Suddenly he stopped and stared

Looking into Lumberwatch’s eyes

“You of all should be most scared

For you know which of you dies.”

We left the drifter in a haste

In the shadow of the tower

I could hear us being chased

And feel intent to devour

We turned to behold creatures

With silver teeth and dripping maws

The darkness hid their features

As they crept low on their paws

A grinding arose with much persistence

An awful clamorous rattle

Of rouge machines in the distance

Roaming the barrens like cattle

The beasts fled without delay

Scattering into the night

The black sky slowly turned to gray

By early morning's first light

Machines on the horizon

Left to follow their will

One of them was rising

And was coming closer still

It hovered low across the land

A ship called Wasteland Tumor

Billowing clouds of sand

It’s existence now no rumor

Captain Rod the Ornate Fish

And his pirate crew

To hide from them was now my wish

As ever nearer they drew

We narrowly escaped the raiders

Rushing into an edifice

Hiding from the flying freighter

That was surely out to get us

In abominable condition

This odd dwelling still stood

Declaring itself Regional Prison

But none of us understood

Before us hanging on the wall

A flag of blue and red and white

Whispers echoed down the hall

That made my chest feel tight

From deep within a haunted scream sliced

Upon us it did descend

This place was the haunt of a zephyrgeist

A spirit of the wind

Zugg quickly opened the entry

While we were all struck dumb

Hoping the ghost would flee

Instead it imparted wisdom

“This is the lair of the No-No Man

He’ll lock you in a cell

And steal away your freedom

Forever there you’ll dwell”

I asked freedoms meaning

The strange word it did speak

It responded to me by keening

“Why, it is what you seek.”

In a flash it did rush past

Howling out the door

“Should we leave” Janie asked

“And not be here forevermore?”

“You will never leave here.”

Came a deep voice from behind

“I’m sorry to interfere

But you all now are mine.”

His face was naught but shadow

His eyes glowing red

Deep within my heart I knew

That we were surely dead

We fought him tooth and nail

As to not be slaves again

But alas the No-No Man did prevail

This battle he did win

I gasped for breath upon the floor

Looking into Janie’s eyes

“We will be free forevermore”

I spoke before I died