The Ghost In The Jar (Poetry)

A wicked old-world spirit
haunts the clouded crystal jar —
the ghost of a magician
glints within — a shrunken star
trapped for all eternity
by some rare binding spell
it whispers curses to itself
and conjures a strange smell

The label bears a warning
not to prise the crusted lid
though the danger’s not explicit
what befell the soul who did
mere suggestion sending shivers
while a suffocating dread
seeps and spreads corruption —
taints what’s living with what’s dead

There is no prayer can exorcise
or shatter that glass shell
whoever made the prison’s
since long-lost in some dark hell
so best lock the door behind us
throw the rusted key away
do not disturb the demon
leave the house to slow decay