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Open Poetry #3
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The Haunting
| Open Poetry #3 |
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The Haunting |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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For reasons only God can know my motor died that day And left me stranded in the hills that afternoon in May. I trekked the hills with hopes to find assistance, if I could And, after hours of walking, saw a cottage in the wood. The cottage fit quite picturesquely in this tranquil scene, The English countryside resplendant in its coat of green. A gentle veil of fog and mist lie just above the moor. I rapped my hand respectfully upon the cottage door. She opened up the door. Quite pretty she was, I could see, Blue eyes that could have melted ice looked at me, quizzically. I told her my dilemma with my most disarming grin. She chuckled sympathetically and bade me to come in. I shook the mist out of my coat and asked to use the phone. From all outward appearances, the lady was alone Yet, as I looked around the room, I was surprised to see That, on the dining table, there were settings placed for three. "Oh, I am sorry", I exclaimed, "for I can plainly see I've interrupted dinner for you and your family." A tiny smile came to her lips as she said, "That's all right. My man and son died years ago just on this very night." I struggled hard to not weep as I stood in front of her And said, "Oh, what a tragedy! What caused it to occur?" "A hunting accident", she told me. "There, upon the moor. My men would hunt each Saturday for pheasant and wild boar." "The marsh can be quite treacherous. Huge quicksand pits abound And, if one drops his vigilance, the sand will pull him down. Apparently, my son got caught up in the sinking sand. My husband went in after him. They found them hand in hand." "For many months I mourned the loss that God had handed me And felt I that I could not recover from that tragedy, But then a vision came to me. I saw it constantly And knew the day would come my men would come back home to me." "So now I set the table and I wait for their return, Await the day their silhouettes come pushing through the fern. My man will call out HERE WE COME! SO SET THE TABLE, HON! The way he always used to do...and our lives will go on." I felt so sorry for the lass and her delusioned state. The tragedy that she endured had simply been too great. I held my hands out to her and I slipped my arms around Her waist to give her comfort - that was when I heard a sound. Cold chills ran up and down my spine. This really was absurd! Apparently, I'd been affected by the tale I'd heard... And then I heard the sound again! Too terrified to speak I tiptoed to the window ledge to have a little peek. I saw them walking through the mist - a tall man and a boy. The young wife screamed, "It's them! It's them!". Her face was wild with joy. The man held high a pheasant and the young boy held the gun. I heard him call out, HERE WE COME! SO SET THE TABLE, HON! I screamed..I think..I don't recall. I barrelled through the door And flew as fast as feet could move across the valley floor. My sides hurt and I felt my lungs were ready to explode But didn't slow my pace until I'd reached a major road. "Hi, honey. Who was that?", the man asked in a curious tone. "Oh, just someone who'd broken down and asked to use the phone." "But why did he run off so fast? He hurdled our front fence!" "I don't know", she smiled, impishly. "He DID seem rather tense." |
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| © Copyright 1999 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
LOL Balladeer! Methinks the lady has hoodwinked our 'Deer  Great poem!------------------ "Tread softly, for I have spread my dreams under your feet"~~William Butler Yeats |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Balladeer, this was great really great, hehe loved the ending  ------------------ What comes from the heart goes to the heart. Samuel Coleridge |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Another great one! And just in time! I was starting to go through Balladeer withdrawal! (not pleasant!) Loved the ending! ------------------ Denise |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, Caroline and Dark Angel, very much. Denise, I'll try to make sure that never happens. I thank you. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
What a great story teller you are Baladeer. |
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Watcher666 Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606 |
I enjoyed this a lot!! Great story,very funny! ------------------ Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Absolutely marvelous, 'Deer one... and well worth waiting for!!!! Big, big hugs!!! (But of course my hands are empty of hat pins. *G* Not that I blame you for being suspicious... but I had to toss them to applaud! LOL) |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Very good! A poem about my favorite place in the whole world!!! And England is famous for her wonderful people! (never met a bore from there!)  |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Ach! I was expecting the ending to be a little more macabre ... **sigh** ... ah well, 'tis well done anyway ... I really got caught up in this one, Balladeer, but then I have always been one who enjoyed a good folk tale. Thank you for the read. Nocht ------------------ "Nunc lento sonitu dicunt, morierus" (Now as I hear this bell tolling softly for another, it says to me, "Thou must die.") |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
My thanks to you all. Suthern, I guess the only way to be safe from you is to keep you applauding! I'll try. Nochtdraco....yea, I know. It was all set up for blood and gore but I couldn't pull the trigger. Maybe next time. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Deer: Deal! *G* I'd much rather applaud efforts such as this than wield weapons... ('specially since I forgot and stored those pins in my back pocket last week! LOL) |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Darned repeats! *G* [This message has been edited by suthern (edited 10-16-1999).] |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
A hair raiser! I can just see you hurdling that fence. LOL... Great one Balladeer, as always! Fitting for the Halloween season! |
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freespiritfem Junior Member
since 1999-10-07
Posts 49Cordova,Alabama,USA |
Ballader, this was Marvelous!!! I loved the way you described everything..it was so vivid...i felt like i was there, I really really enjoyed it...i have goosebumps!!! Sincerely, ------------------ Paula Diane S. |
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Genea Member
since 1999-06-15
Posts 321USA |
Balladeer..the ending was a surprise...i expected her to be a witch and she set the place for Hansel and Gretel...lol I loved this one!! |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
Ah Sir Balladeer...you reeled me in with this one. Wonderful story. Hmmm you wouldn't be that kind of trickster now would you?..LOL. I guess walking up to your door would be an interesting experience! |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
You sure do know how to tell a story Balladeer |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
ROFL...I'll have to remember that one...*g* HUSG ------------------ You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. |
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
This was really excellent! Fascinating, unique, and building tension the entire time; and then the ending was absolutely hilarious. I did not expect it to make me guffaw, I thought she really was off in the head! Ho Ho Ho! ------------------ ...Living is ever like crossing rivers; finding a new life on each shore ... RJG |
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Systematic Decay Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301That place with padded walls and funny people in white......... |
LOL is all I can say ------------------ "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." -Billy Corgan- |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
You are quite a story teller indeed ! LOL Very well written, a pleasure to read and as always a surprising ending. Excellent ! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Your comments make me smile and feel blessed to be part of this group. Thank you all. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Balladeer, Excellent, but then I've never seen less from you. |
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JennyLee Senior Member
since 1999-09-01
Posts 1461Northwestern, NJ. |
LOL... Balladeer !! Very amusing,enjoyed very much!  Jenny |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
You are SUCH a brat!! |
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Toerag Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622Ala bam a |
Now why does a genius kill bugs for a living? Beats the hell outta me? |
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Sally S. Senior Member
since 1999-06-07
Posts 847Ohio |
I love the twists and turns as you take us on adventures of the mind. You truly are a master of talents.  |
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Kelly Member
since 1999-07-03
Posts 145 |
I loved it. Keep em coming. |
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Pepper Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079Southern Florida |
An Excellent piece Balladeer! Really loved the ending too! ------------------ May your days be filled with lots of sunshine and your nights lit up by golden moonbeams |
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Iloveit Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 1121NM |
joins in the applause, this was absolutely wonderful, you are quite the story teller *big grins* and yep, could just see you hurdling the fence lolol |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Now my mind twisted the end to have the lady dissolve in Sir 'Deer's arms, while forlorn husband and son came in, for THEY had set the plates as, upon hearing a rumor of their passing, the grieved wife and mother headed for the moors to find her loves, only to perish herself, while the menfolk had returned home, safe. Ah well, your version is good, too! LOL. Fine job, Sir 'Deer! ------------------ Sunshine Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
 to the top buddy tis the day! |
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Verma Member
since 1999-10-25
Posts 80Midlands, England |
This is the first time that i've read this Balladeer, it really made me laugh. |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Big grins here -- a tale well told, and a dash of wit at the end -- quite a satisfying repast you have set before us, Sir Balladeer! --Kess ------------------ You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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U K Hero Member
since 1999-08-08
Posts 266England |
one of your best, much loved |
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