ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Well good folks, after saying yesterday that I didn't have any ghost poems for my Halloween function, I now do! I've been up since 4 writing it. It's one of those poem that you get really excited about, cos you just have the feeling that it's a goodie, and I'd love to share it with you, but after recent discussions re "publication" on forums etc, unfortunately, I can't. That really sucks, hey?

Gee's thanks for not shareing that Kymmie. You can pm you know just may take a while ???


Bob

Well, I can't share my "good" poem, but I will post this one. Just wrote it in half an hour. It's a strange one, but it's supposed to be half scary, half gross and half silly (never was good at mathematicalness) ...



Turn back …
by Kym Frightel (supposed to rhyme with Eitel)

It’s Halloween, it’s trick or treat, it’s time for dead to rise,
when coffins vomit up their corpse and witches fill the skies.
But all your friends are fancy-dressed as skeletons and ghosts.
Your big-mouthed mate says he’s not scared, he laughs and brags and boasts.
The echoes in your skull just scream ...
… turn back … turn back …

When shadows slide and moonlight glows on things that are not there,
when icicles of terror spike your veins and each scared hair
stands tippy toe upon your scalp and goose bumps prickle fear,
you wish you were inside your house, instead of standing here!
You beg, you wish, you pray, that they’d …
… turn back … turn back …

If all the dogs are cowering beneath their master’s bed,
then who, or what, is howling? Howling, howling fills your head.
You’re hot, so hot, and sweat is trickling ice cubes down your spine.
Though duds are wet from sweat (or pee?), you act like you’re just fine.
You wish that you could make your friends …
… turn back … turn back …

There’s footsteps close behind you, and you hear a rasping breath,
a bony finger taps hello, you smell the stench of death.
And still your friends call ‘Trick or Treat’ and laugh as though it’s fun.
The voices in your brain are yelling, “grab ya guts and run!”.
If only you could find some guts …
… turn back … turn back …

Then Big-Mouth, he starts screaming but he’s frozen to the street
as Headless Horseman’s hoof beats thunder terrifying beat.
A blood-caked sword swings deadly arc and lops off Big-Mouth’s head.
It bounces, bleeding, big-eyed gawp, and hollers “Help, I’m dead!”
Your friends are rushing home and yell …
… turn back … turn back …

But all the ghostly spirits fly and all the werewolves zoom,
and all the vampires hitch a ride upon each witch’s broom.
Run up the stairs and slam your door, then feel impending doom
cos all the bones with rotting flesh are hiding in your room!
There’s spooks in here and ghouls out there …
… you can’t … turn back …
Cos you’re. Dead. Meat!

You won't think much of the "good" poem Bob, cos it's a sad one and you like funny. I'll pm it, the worse you can say is that you don't like it! Won't bother me ...

Love it - but reckon it needs an extra turn back on the end line for emphasis - 2 seems to short - but that of course is just my opinion

It's a ripper the kids will love it

Thanks Maureen, I didn't know whether to go for the ... turn back ... turn back ... to make it spooky, or Turn back! Turn back! to sound more frightened?

Two works well for me, Kym. It forces you to slow down a bit and break the rhythm.

Seems to have the desired affect - I read it to my kids before bed last night and they're still blubbering and wetting themselves

Curious about the under wraps sad Halloween poem?

Marty

Good, good, glad to hear your cute little girls are having nightmares now. That was the aim.

Now if I read it to the old ladies at the next CWA meeting, I wonder how they'll handle it. I should get Bob to dress up as the headless horseman and he can make a dramatic entrance with a blood-caked sword - that'll scare the old girls' poise panties off.

Good on you Kym,

This is a great kids poem. I am a little disappointed at the ending though. But that is me and my Pollyanna outlook. I would have liked the 'bedroom' to be a sanctuary rather than also invaded by the ghouls.

mmm.. I have just had another thought.. you never know, I may come up with a Halloween poem myself . Thanks for the stimulus Kym.. I'll get back to you shortly