Wednesday 22 May 2013

Siren

by John Xero


Heed the siren's call. It heralds salvation, the bliss of ignorance, the sweet succour of death.

Do not thrash as she takes you into her arms, sweet child, as she presses her lips to yours. Let her steal your breath as if it were her own.

Do not cry out as she cracks your bones for the marrow within. Instead forget what pain is, let her devour that too.

What has free will ever brought you? Let the siren take charge and plant her black flag in your soul. Soon you will be nothing more than tears in the ocean.





Author bio: John Xero knows how easy it is to give in to temptation, to let the distractions wash you away. He's trying to ignore them and write, write, write.
xeroverse.com | @xeroverse

Siren was runner up in the Scrolls flash fiction challenge. Listen here.



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12 comments:

  1. Sandra Davies22 May 2013 at 09:09

    This immediately brought This Mortal Coil's 'Song to the Siren' to mind [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HphVfIswoYE ]

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    1. John Xero24 May 2013 at 19:57

      Interesting, I know a slightly faster version of that from somewhere. Covered many, many times apparently (the Mortal Coil version being a cover itself).

      Thanks, Sandra. =)

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  2. Anonymous24 May 2013 at 13:14

    Powerful story John! I felt myself cringing.

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  3. EJ Hobbs24 May 2013 at 18:23

    I enjoyed the visualization, John.Yet it seemed to go deeper than that as well...Who doesn't have temptation clawing at them...Who doesn't want to give in, let go? Good one, my friend.

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    1. John Xero24 May 2013 at 19:58

      Thank you so much. =) We do all have our Sirens, the trick is knowing them, and lashing yourself to a mast as you sail on past... ;)

      Delete
  4. Shelli24 May 2013 at 22:50

    Beautiful imagery as always, you weave a tale as alluring as the siren herself.

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  5. Katherine Hajer26 May 2013 at 01:13

    I'll always associate sirens with that song -- mostly the This Mortal Coil version, although there's a different version on a film Heath Ledger was in (Candy) that was really moving too.

    Your text is a brilliant little capsule of sacrifice and insanity. Becoming tears in the ocean becomes an opportunity to join a demented greater good.

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    1. John Xero26 May 2013 at 13:13

      Thanks, Katherine. =)

      Although I recognise the song, the association isn't there for me. In my mind Sirens will always be Odysseus tied to the mast of his ship while all his sailors' ears are plugged so they can't hear the singing. But then I do love my mythology. =)

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  6. Anonymous27 May 2013 at 02:26

    I don't recognize any of the songs anyone has mentioned. But I really enjoyed the imagery in this. It is pretty poetic too.

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