Castles Of Writing Demons Poem by elysabeth faslund

So we sit on the battlements, keeping watch
Over our typewriters,
Marshalling the words
Into fighting order.

There is no sin in letting the angels edit,
Arbitrate our words
With delicate sweeps of their talons.
Have you never considered the kind spirits?
Have you never considered Ariel?

There are angels, there are demons,
In our castle keeps and tapestry-rich halls.
There are archangels in our dungeons.
There are satans in our castle chapels.
There are words to exorcise.
There are images to trap and chain to
Our mural-laden walls.

We will ultimately be invaded by these beings.
They will dictate
What depth of moat,
What abyss of endeavor
To keep them benign, at bay.
Until, we must summon them.
But, at the last, we will be invaded.
By angels.
By demons.

I have Ariel.
Who do you have?

I have been warned against too-loud
Exorcism, the screaming summon.
For I could awaken even
The gods of our castles.
Gods do not take kindly to being
Awakened by mortals.

I have Ariel.
Who do you have?