The Haunting...reposted for the coming of Halloween

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Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

0 posted 2001-10-09 01:46 AM

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."

Duncan
Member Ascendant

since 2001-08-07

Posts 5455

1 posted 2001-10-09 02:05 AM

I love Halloween and this is a great, timely tale.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

2 posted 2001-10-09 02:17 AM

I think I recall you posting this a while back.

You had me hooked, it was all so familiar but could not remember the ending.. you had me chuckling dear.

I enjoyed again this time around.

Maree

Kit McCallum

Administrator

Member Laureate

since 2000-04-30

Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada

3 posted 2001-10-09 06:44 AM

Oh .... I love it, love it, love it!!!! I remembered reading this before Michael, but the ending still got me, LOL. A perfectly goosebumply read dear poet, and with such a wonderful conclusion and punchline! You are the master, my 'deer!

Best wishes,

/Kit

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2001-10-09 10:23 AM

The best of Hallowe'en, for sure! You can repost this one any time....but most assuredly, always in October!

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

5 posted 2001-10-09 02:03 PM

There are some books I enjoy reading again and again... far from being bored at the repetition, I find something new with each reading. So it is with your poetry, Deer One... I enjoy it more each time I treat myself to a read. *S*

Marge Tindal