The Collapse of the Faded Castle: Vol. 1

A poem by an unknown hand. Between the lines runs a strange and unlucky air.

In a dream I once saw a black sailing ship

passing through deep midnight and gloomy sea-fog.

Its hull was long since rotten, its mast seemed broken into several lengths—

yet as if to mock human reason on purpose,

all those broken parts were joined, in a grotesque and twisted form,

by layers of algae and living matter wrapping the hull,

dragging a ghastly shadow under the moon

that made one fall into fear one could not cast off.

As if the moment you look away,

the next second it would stand before your eyes.

On the deck stood a tall, lean figure,

wrapped in a black robe, face blurred and unclear.

Only those eyes—only those cold eyes—

a single glance seemed etched into your soul.

Was it a freak from the deep sea,

or master of some ancient world—

or perhaps the nightmare itself.