Vampire Villanelle

by David Lunde

If I could tell you, I would let you know
Not to rage against the dying of the light.
I sleep to wake, and take my waking slow,

Clinging to the soil in which I cannot grow.
Wise men at their end know dark is right:
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

We are the dancers in the afterglow:
Sired in caskets, born to live at night,
We sleep to wake, and take our waking slow.

You whose infant passion has yet to grow,
Whose blood-teeth have not yet learned to bite,
If I could tell you, I would let you know

The knack is this: to fasten and not let go,
To taste the iron-rich blood by candlelight,
Then sleep to wake, and take your waking slow.

Images in mirrors will never show
How ageless is the dark's own face of fright:
If I could tell you, I would let you know.
I sleep to wake, and take my waking slow.

David Lunde, one of the leading science fiction poets, has won two Rhysling awards for "Best Science Fiction Poem of the Year." His book, Blues for Port City, was published by Mayapple Press in 1995..

Updated 9/1/02