the runcheon rattles

file2651310428158
photo by Driscoll

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

NEW! Open Mic Reading

Yes, that title isn’t lying. The wonderful Rose, our own Poet Rummager, has graciously added a new reading to the October Open Mic page. Check out her sites here (poetrummager) AND here (slashermonster).

You can catch all the sweet voices on the Open Mic Page.

Also, consider this your last reminder for October to get your readings in for this month. Seriously, people.

Updated August Open Mic

Yes, the fabulous, if somewhat naughty, Rose pinged the Open Mic page, and pinged it rather hard. Go listen to it, at her very own site.

And I said I would post a new reading for everyone that comes in for the rest of the month, so here you are.

summerless blood

 

The Readings

Well, that was fast. Pleasant Street of Are You Thrilled delivered a fantastic little poem on a recent near-death experience. You an hear it/read it at her site. And as promised, I have added two readings below.

Click to visit the Open Mic for August page.

Click to read these are the angels.

Click to read carousel

Readings and Such Matters

So,  in this post, I asked some of you to pick a poem for me to read, and some of you did. And I do very much appreciate it. I had three poems suggested and I’ve recorded all three. I will post one tomorrow.

I will post the second IF I can get somebody else to post a link to the August Open Mic post.

I will post the third IF I can get a second somebody else to post a link to the August Open Mic post.

And so on. I’ll go back and eve re-read some of my old posts, as debilitating as that may be, and scrounge up one reading for every post that you, dear poets, link to on your own sites.

Come on, make me work. Make me dance like your puppet. I like it!

caught without umbrellas (20160727)

neither of us thought to bring
an umbrella
though all the signs were there
dark, sullen clouds in your eyes
and the thunder of silence
rolling between us

i pull my coat around me
and you do the same
with your own coat
self-comfort without any warmth

i make an umbrella for you
out of my bones
stretch my skin across the ribs
and this rain falls
red as a river of regrets
and never gets you wet

falls as red as everything that
ever entered or exited my heart
my cloud-shaped heart
and you are untouched

——

——

for Jane Dougherty Writes
Poetry challenge #41: In the rain
Franz Marc In the Rain(Im Regen) (1912)
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Open Mic for July, Redux

Hey, you should head over to the open mic page for July RIGHT NOW because I just added two new readings. One about a monster who might just be an angel of mercy, and another a trip down memory lane. You’ll have to go to the page to see them.

And WHILE YOU’RE THERE, feel to leave a comment, and consider making a donation to my crusade to fill up this summer with the voices of poets.

Open Mic for July

First call for the monthly Open Mic Invitation.

You know you want to lull me to sleep with your mesmerizing, velvety tones. So why not, I say. Why not? Grab an ice cold lemonade or iced tea (or an Arnold Palmer for those JUST CAN’T CHOOSE), wet your whistle, and hit record on your phone/computer/ultra modern recording studio.

We’re all waiting to hear you.


Here are the steps you need to take (reduced to three for a limited time):

  1. Record yourself reading one of your own works.
  2. Post it on your site (or Soundcloud or any other audio hosting site).
  3. Include a link to this post in your post;
    OR comment below;
    OR send me a message using the contact form.

I will post a link with your name and poem title RIGHT HERE and on the new Open Mic page (it’s above in the menu).

Remember, it’s an open mic invitation. NOT a challenge.

Also, if you can think of a way to improve the format, I’m all ears.


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Poet Rummager aka Rose Fluttering

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Crow the moon and the crickets

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Poet Rummager (aka Rose) Scylla

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Pleasant Street hotter than eggs on a pan

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REVELACIONES ÍNTIMAS DE UN ESCLAVO CAR-di-NAL

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Crow caught without umbrellas (20160727)

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