Compatible Monsters (Revised); Teaser

(Poet's Note: This is a revision of the original piece, which was written in non-rhyming Narrative Verse, similar to Shakespeare's plays. I found that while it told the story, it lacked a certain flair that I try to infuse into my work - so I'm going to rewrite it using a more appropriate form: the "Cambridge Sonnet". Below is the first stanza, which sets a much better tone, and it's the only part of the revision I'm going to share here (the full piece will be included in the next poetry collection. - J.)

Trickling sweat from every tiny pore

        Curled into a ball, chin to her knees

                 Too exhausted yet to scrutinize...

Water droplets 'plink' on concrete floor

        Antiseptic hangs thick on the breeze,

                  Motionless, she opens both her eyes,

                          To a place she doesn't recognize.

How did she land in this tiny cell,

        A single shaft of light with which to see,

That godforsaken, awful cleanser smell,

        And just her rage to keep her company?

                But wait -- a quiet sound beyond the wall

                        Tells her she's not here alone at all.

---

- © Jackson Cambridge, 2016.