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an oldie for Halloween
| Open Poetry #10 |
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an oldie for Halloween |
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RAM Member
since 2000-03-24
Posts 153 |
The Eve of All Saints' Day by Seymour Lament 'Twas the eve of All Saints' Day, and all through the dale ev'ry creature was stirring - ev'ry corpse was unveiled. The zombies were reanimated with care, in hopes that the living would not have a prayer. ~~ The children were playing without fear or dread, not knowing what ghouls might soon hide 'neath their beds. My wife, dressed as Cleo, myself, mummy wrapped - we'd just reached the contest, to win it, perhaps. When up by the crypts there arose such a clatter, and unearthly howls, which caused my teeth to chatter. Away to the window I flew like a flash (my faux courage mustered), and threw up the sash. The moon on the carpet of rain-dampened leaves lent a glistening eeriness to this chilled eve. When, what to my uneasy eyes should appear, but an army of zombies out instilling fear. In the lead was a vile corpse, so putrid and coarse, I knew in a moment some grave was its source. More plodding than turtles, yet, his army came, and he gestured, and called them by frightening names: "Now face chomper! Waist chomper! Live flesh collector! On chest eater! Breast eater! Hannibal Lecter! We'll feast in the houses! We'll feast at town hall! Now feast away! feast away! feast away all!" As people in masses at public events flow slowly through exits like oozing cement, so on toward our building the army it drew, with sickening moans, and some slobbering too. And then, the threat dawning, I threw down the sash while there, 'fore my eyes (as they say) my life flashed. As I fought for clear headedness and turned around, every voice in the room gasped, as though with one sound. Looking back through the pane, I then saw what they'd seen - the leader of zombies, so threateningly lean, some bloody appendage flung over his back - tapping his own hand 'round like some foul hacky sack. His eyes - they were dangling! his dimples weren't there. His whole chin was missing! his nostrils were flared. His clothes were in tatters, as on him they sagged, the colors bleached out, just like my mummy rags. Some pieces of gristle hung down from his teeth and some maggots encircled his head like a wreath; he had a pale face and a bloated round belly, with slices removed like a ham at a deli. His visage, though gory, was nothing compared to the evil I sensed when I met with his stare. But then this look changed, and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. Thinking me one of his, he yelled "You! Get to work!", and rubbing his nose, he turned with a jerk. And losing a finger inside of his nose, and giving a nod to his army to go, they all lumbered off toward the main part of town where, with luck and a warning, they'd all be mowed down. So I sighed my relief, as they passed out of sight, and then said, "I guess my choice of costumes was right." based on Clement C. Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" © RAM 10/94 |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Whew! This is G-O-R-Y!!! I'll have to read it again tonight! Has a Nightmare before Christmas feel to it! Corinne |
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
That settles it for me, my doors are staying locked. I enjoyed this very much!!!!!!!! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Excellent RAM! You followed the flow of "The Night Before Christmas" with eerie steadfastness! What an incredibly wonderful read ... the imagery and cadence was superb. Loved this ghoulish treat!  Best wishes, /Kit |
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RAM Member
since 2000-03-24
Posts 153 |
Thanks, Core, inot2b and Kit. Rick |
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