*Definition of malady
plural maladies
1) a disease or disorder of the animal body
2) an unwholesome or disordered condition

*Definition of magnitude
noun
1) great size or extent

In other words, the title could have read: "Diseases of Great Extent". It just doesn't seem to have the same poetic "ring" to it, does it?

*aigremore
(noun) Charcoal prepared for making powder.

*ranger
(noun) -a person or thing that wanders or ranges over a particular area or domain.

Notes
A weary traveler wanders upon a quaint village in a remote valley in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland.

The townsfolk stare blindly ahead, oblivious to the stranger's presence. They cannot help because they cannot hear his pleas or move.

He is an outsider.

The only one who can and is willing to help is a leper who appears to be the villages only moving, speaking inhabitant. He offers to help the stranger find his way safely through the disease ravaged streets.
However, the traveler refuses to allow him to get near, thus ignoring the man's offer of assistance.

Because of his arrogance, vanity, repulsion, and fear over something he doesn't understand, he falls victim to the very thing he's afraid of. 10/04/2016



All of the artwork in this poem was generously provided by the incomparable Polish painter and surrealist horror artist, Mr. Zdzislaw Beksinski.
Thank you, "Z".
And as always, thank you for reading my morbid musings.