Litany of Sorrow

In tattered stacks I sought my way, through dusty tomes of lore To trace the steps of yesterday, reflections of a time afore Where apparitions haunt the mist and tarry for a while To sadly rue the curs'd path of follies artful guile A shadowed figure paused paying heed to my regard And from the silent mien I collected my reward Oh how the heart in hopeless grip doth dwell upon the fear Reflected in those empty eyes afar and yet so near They told of tales aplenty, grim in ways unmatched Of fated days to come in distant memories past Of portents and of omens, of misgivings dour repast In ancient times afore those held in futures grasp There I marked the warning in somber tides of woe There I gained in mourning the tears of sorrow left unsown With heavy heart and troubled mind I went upon my way From tattered stacks and dusty tomes to seek the light of day With weary steps I trod the paths so many trod before Of follies dark and artful guile from curs'd days of yore