A Strange and Terrifying Poem
I first stumbled upon this text three weeks ago, when I noticed a group of unusual men passing out flyers. I took one, glanced at the paper, and saw that it was covered in a script unlike anything I’d seen before in my career. The words were completely alien to me, but the lines seem to be organized into something resembling a traditional poem. Being by trade a Professor of Linguistics and Dead Languages at Miskatonic University, I was convinced that the strange writing on the page must represent the language of an ancient culture. Consequently, I decided to try my hand at translating the strange markings into readable verse. After much effort, I succeeded in translating the first half of the poem, but before I could finish, I found the text had begun to spread through the internet virally and the flyers were cropping up across the world. Curious as to why such a strange and indecipherable piece of writing would prove so popular, I finished the translation… at least, I finished as much as I dared to. What I discovered in those lines has left me so full of terror that I cannot sleep and the only thought I take solace in is the knowledge that a swift departure from this world must not be far off, though even in death I may find no refuge from this poem and the madness it brings. I offer my translation in hopes that it may find people who have not yet been touched by the daemoniacal text, who may have the will to resist. But I fear it is too late for this world already.
Yours,
- George Irving, Ph.D
(Original Text)
Yvulgtm ‘bsna N’gha ng N’ghft Shugg
Is’p: Cthulu
Ya vulgt shogg va goka y gotha
Fm’latgh shuggoth syha’h
Ya vulgt uh’e hupadgh shugg
Gnaiih, ‘fhalmaa, ng gof’nn
Mnahn’ hlirghh
Lk’cvol ng mnulye mg jhn arw
N’gha
Ya tharanak li’hee syha’h fhtagn
ch’ ebumna
Ep uln skri lloigg ng ‘bthnkk
Hrii gh Cthulu, Ronnyth
Hl y’ai! Prr’v ng bug qisspt!
Uln Cthulu llll ikn!
Frg’ji yr’luhh ph’ shogg ln shugg
Y r’luhh lw’nafh yorr’e
Ng w’gahn grah’nn loigg
Ya sgn’wahl kn f’fthagu
‘Rluh, nnn yjeryt
Yvulgtm yron ooboshu rn shugg
Tharanak yr’luhh grah’nn
F’dkahnn, ya wgahn f’mnahnog
F’dkahnn uy ron…
R’yleh sktt Cthulu ng Shoggoth i Shagg
Nyarlthotep hafh’drn hai looig grah’nn
YarN’gha ng N’ghft Shugg
Ya vulgtm
Uaaah
(Translated Text)
My Prayer for Death and Darkness on Earth
By: Cthulu
I pray that the realm of darkness would grant my wish
To burn the people of Earth for eternity
I pray the people born of Earth
Fathers, mothers, and children
Worthless heretics
Would be pierced and scream yet never find
Death
I promise on pain of eternal sleep
To cross over to the pit
Then bring misery to their minds and bodies (Translator’s Note: ‘bthnk can be read as ‘essences’)
Followers of Cthulu, cult of slaves
Here my call! Rise and go to war!
Call Cthulu beside you!
Spread my words from the realm of darkness to Earth (TN: r’luhh means written words specifically)
My words will transmit my soul
And control the lost ones’ minds (TN: grah’nn can mean lost ones or larvae)
I will share the space within their skin
Secretly, waiting for my time
I pray my cult will visit all of Earth
Bringing my words to the larvae
Once they read my words, I will control the worthless ones
Once they read these words…
(TN: I stopped reading at this line out of fear for my eternal soul. Therefore, the final stanza of the poem must go untranslated. I did, however, glance upon the final word- “uaaah.” It is both a war cry and the end word of a powerful incantation.)
- Evan Thomas Hicks
