Mission Impossible

Shuffling through the woods on a ghastly night

In search of answers from a ghastly knight

Gripped by fear yet exuding a demeanor of audacity

As he skips through the forest with much tenacity

And suddenly before him his destination appears

Perspiration consumes his face and unveils his fears

The rhythm of his heartbeat quickens to a crescendo

As he is ushered in by a mystic sound composed by the meadow

A strange being, his face concealed by a hideous mask

Welcomes him in and reveals his arduous task

He chants incantations with frightful aplomb

As he scatters his charms across the floor

Cowries and skulls adorn his makeshift palace

Bloodstains etched on earthenware from previous projects

From human or animal it’s hard to deduce

The visitor’s heart at this point in flames

But too scared to take to his heels

He must endure a while longer

“Speak!” booms out the strange being

 With a voice frightful enough to intimidate ghosts

Yet the visitor needs not speak

“I know what it is you seek”

He assures the visitor to his utter amazement

“What you seek has many impediments

Do you wish to go ahead with your demand?”

Thoughts begin to fill his brain and his hands

Begin to tremble and shudder

He recaptures his courage and cautiously declares

“I am prepared to travel every mile of this land

To have that which I most desire in the palm of my hand”

“You have decided stranger and now I must speak

To accomplish this feat that you desperately seek

I require the left eye of an owl, the tail of a male lizard,

The heart of an elephant and a cock’s gizzard

Don’t forget to add three live snakes preferably green

The kidney of a vulture and a monkey’s spleen

And finally but certainly the most important

I need an antelope, preferably one that’s pregnant

Now would you be willing to carry this task out?”

But there was no need asking, he had already passed out