layer by layer
i will open the old man up
and we’ll see
if he keeps that smile
plastered on his face
we’ll see
if the light finally goes out
in that ruined eye
we’ll see
if he kept his heart in his body
like a good boy
or
if he stashed it away
in the walls
or
under the floorboards
Tag: Halloween
the runcheon rattles
the runcheon rattles, its chains are long
it keens a ghostly murder song
upon the moors, upon the heath
with rasping, fetid, icy breath
the runcheon rattles, its chains unwind
with wailing moan it hunts though blind
across the meadow, out of the wood
where no child ventures whose soul is good
the runcheon rattles, its chains pulled taut
’tis bloody though it lacks a heart
amidst the town, within the lane
it shudders in the cold and rain
the runcheon rattles, its chains a ruin
its labored breath a grating tune
beyond the hedge, through the gate
it tarries not lest it be late
the runcheon rattles, by chains unbound
all too soon its prey’s been found
upon your hearth a sudden frost
the runcheon rattles–and you are lost
wither, ancient spirit (20161029)
as the animal blossoms
a wild moon breathes out
this soul follows secret winter
wither, ancient spirit!
murmur and wander no more
——
for
Specks and Fragments/Elusive Trope
Magnetic Poetry Saturday Challenge
All Hallows’ Eve Poetry Slam
Poem 20151101
turn off the porch light
and check out how much candy
–damn, they took it all
Poem 20151031
every halloween, the pillowcase
was filled
so much candy
and we had to pour it out on the table
and we would pore over the pieces
look for broken wrappers
and put aside
everything homemade
or open
along with the pencils
toothbrushes
and religious tracts
that explained why halloween
was evil
then the candy was sorted
chocolates with peanut butter
into tier one
other chocolate candy bars
with familiar names
into tier two
chewy candies into three
and then hard candies
suckers
and candy corn into
the pile
that we didn’t care if someone snuck
a piece
the candy would last
almost until the first of the year
and then
out
out
out
and i can still smell
the plastic of the inside
of the mask
held to my head
with an elastic band
that always seemed to break
two-thirds of the way through
the walk
Post 20151024
Here’s one of my infrequent posts.
I just posted something a little spooky. Probably not too spooky. But here’s the deal. I love Halloween. So I’d like to offer a challenge to anyone who still reads this (my stats indicate I don’t get many actual visitors). We have exactly one week until Halloween. For each day, pick a Halloween theme and write a poem. For example: a trick, a treat, something scary, a Halloween memory, anything as long as you can relate it to Halloween. Tag it with “halloween challenge” so I can find it.
No prizes. Who am I, Rockefeller?
Song 20151010
Here’s another vintage Halloween tune. And you get a nice little animation, too.
The Headless Horseman, Bing Crosby
Song 20151005
I do enjoy some seasonal music. I’ll post more as the mood strikes me.
Here’s a good, old one.
Skeleton in the Closet, Louis Armstrong
Words and Feathers 