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In Haunting Notes (My ghost story reposted for halloween)
| Open Poetry #10 |
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In Haunting Notes (My ghost story reposted for halloween) |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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In Haunting Notes It was a brisk November night When I rode into that town Feeling saddle sore and weary Looking only to bed down. My clothes were dark with trail dirt My chaps were wearing thin. The wind was blowing from the east And cutting to my skin. Every hoof fall kicked up dust Upon that darkened street. I hitched up next to the saloon To get a bite to eat. My boot heels struck upon the wood. Sounds echoed in the night. The streets were bare and silent, Not a single soul in sight. Soft orange light reflected out, Cast shadows on the ground And from the depths of that saloon I heard a haunting sound. A voice so soft and full of grace Was carried out to me; The tantalizing notes she sang, I simply had to see. I entered through the swinging doors And saw her standing there In dress of red and deep blue eyes Framed with auburn hair. She looked at me and flashed a smile That lit her entire face. I wondered what a girl like that Was doing in this place. I bellied right up to the bar, Then ordered up a drink. Captured in the spell she cast, I found it hard to think. Her eyes caught mine across the room; I couldn’t look away And when she finished her last song, She turned and came my way. “Hey cowboy, it looks like to me You’re lonely and bone tired And you should know, a girl like me Prefers to be admired. I got myself a room upstairs Here in this one horse town. I’ve got a bed just right for two. You’re welcome to bed down.” She smiled once more, I couldn’t speak; She reached to take my arm; Then led me to her room upstairs, I, spellbound by her charm. “Welcome to my home,” she said. She opened up the door. The room was dark, a single lamp Cast shadows on the floor. She led me to the bed and stood Before me in the night Slipped her clothes off, piece by piece, Outlined in dimming light. Each sensual curve was accented. She stood before me there. I reached to pull her towards me, Hands running through her hair. A chain of gold graced her fair neck From which a locket dangled. She climbed in bed, right next to me, Our bodies soon entangled. We loved and talked all through the night. I drifted off near dawn And in the early morning hours I woke to find her gone. Hazy light was filtered in Through a window marred with dust; Next to me, lay on the bed The locket dull with rust. I picked it up and opened it Where, much to my surprise, I found a picture old and worn That made me doubt my eyes. The picture was in black and white. It bore the test of time. The face, though, that it held within Was no one else but mine. I had to find her, had to know What this was all about. I threw my clothes on in a rush And from the room ran out. I took the steps two at a time. I had to find that girl. But what I saw as I looked down Caused my head to swirl. The saloon lay still and empty. Silence filled the air. Old broken bottles packed the bar Not a soul was there. Tables and chairs were brown with rot. Dust coated all with white. But what I saw when I looked down Was the most unnerving sight. The floor lay thick encased in sand That had blown in through the door Disturbed by just my set of prints Where ‘we’d’ walked the night before. I ran outside to only find The town stood in decay. I jumped onto my waiting horse And quickly rode away. Years have passed, since that cold night In that forgotten town. Now on my stand, the locket rests. Some nights I take it down. I open it to see my face, A picture from the past. I’ve questions I can’t answer and There’s no one that I can ask. Sometimes at night, she calls to me From somewhere in my dreams And I’m forced to remind myself All’s never what it seems. So cowboy if you find yourself On the trail some cold , dark night And run into a quiet town Where something seems not right. Beware the girl with auburn hair And mesmerizing voice; Just saddle up and ride away While you still have a choice. She haunts the town, still in search of A love lost long ago And once you’re captured in her spell She will not let you go. Best mark my words, I see her face Bathed in that dim light Where in my dreams, she haunts me still Every single night. What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compaired to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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| © Copyright 2000 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
Wow, that was spooky. You wrote one good cowboy ghost story. |
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Poet's Sister Member
since 2000-10-16
Posts 80North Carolina |
Perfect Halloween night story. Spooky! |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Yet somehow I don't think I could resist her...excellent writing...reminds me of the song "Lauri"...last night at the dance I met Lauri...so lovely and warm and angel of a girl...last night I fell in love with Lauri...strange things happen in this world...James |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thanks inot2B, james and poet's sister...this happens to be one of my personal favorites just because it's something so out of the ordinary for me. |
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