Among the graves at break of night,
My ghostly love was lastly seen,
Adored by all beneath starlight,
In twirling hues of stormy sheen.

Ethereal, her melodies
Call out to me at midnight’s toll —
Could I withstand her witcheries
If I just took that winter stroll?

My heartache grew when hers lost heat,
Yet I awaited her to come.
And now she dances to the beat
As if my heart was just her drum.

She beckons me with her soft voice,
Her tone so lulling yet so drear.
My heart then gave no other choice —
My soul was hers as was my fear.

[Ashley Dioses’ debut collection of dark traditional poetry, Diary of a Sorceress, was released in 2017 from Hippocampus Press.  Her second collection, The Withering, came out in 2020 from Jackanapes Press.  Her poetry has appeared in Weird Fiction Review, Cemetery Dance Publications, Weirdbook, Black Wings VI: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror, and others. Her poem “Cobwebs,” was mentioned in Ellen Datlow’s recommended Best Horror of the Year Volume Twelve list. She has also appeared in the Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase 2016 and 2020 for her poems “Ghoul Mistress” and “Her Heart that Flames Would Not Devour” respectively.  She was also a nominee for the 2019 Pushcart Prize.  She blogs at fiendlover.blogspot.com.]