Dread Threat

The human imagination inherited a haunting

dread of the unseen threats of incipient doom 

fleshed out by ancient legend in fiercely bloodthirsty

shapes slinking through the deep, dark of midnight 

awaiting fated opportunity to descend and throttle 

humanity in a deadly grip of death. Lurking deep 

in the subconscious like an inherited memory 

passed down from time immemorial in a pagan ritual 

of preparation for the inevitable crushing of humanity 

by monsters loitering on the edges of the Earth 

labeled on primitive maps: 'Here There Be Dragons'

fair warning of boundaries to be avoided at risk 

of existence. Illustrations sketched the dangers in 

mounted horsemen clad in iron waging battle against 

slavering beasts intent on human prey. The monsters 

never quite seen by human eye yet their fearsome 

attributes known; grasping claws, gaping jaws and 

blood soaked teeth clothed in scales or grey tatters 

with fiercely bloodshot eyes and fire flashing to blind

trembling victims. Today we have met the enemy

though still unseen, no longer lingering, waiting but

opportunity grasped, invading, maiming, looting

bodily organs and delivering lethal blows, a simple

primitive organism fulfilling the task assigned it to

indifferently yet thoroughly extinguish humanity.

And cowering humanity looks in desperation for

solutions to mount in defence to penetrate the armour

of the beast's expanding army of grand conquest.