It's just poetry, it won't bite

Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits, POEm


10.25.09 Posted in Contributor Series 2, today's words by

Spiders,
witches, and ghosts, oh my! It is that time of year when we think of
all things creepy. And candy. Like that most delicious combination of
chocolate and peanut butter. So, in this spirit (ha, ha!), let me
introduce Contributor Series 2. We inaugurate this series with a fun
and freaky poem by Val Russell, our writer extraordinaire du nord.
 
Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits
POEm
By Val B. Russell

The evening crept into my room
Beneath the fullness of the moon
The hour struck just ten that night
As I wrote by candlelight
I’d heard it said once long ago
Its flame invoked the soul of Poe
You see it was my secret dream
To outdo Poe and write a scream
Something wicked to delight
A story of horrific fright
As I tapped the keys to tell my tale
My laptop announced a new e-mail
I looked at who the note was from
Apparently it was from “no one”!
Out loud I said “this cannot be
Someone must be spamming me”
I poised my hand and pushed delete
An action I would soon repeat
Within no time I got some more
First twenty-nine, then forty-four
Finally the spamming ceased
My frenzied fingers felt released
Just as I sat back and sighed
My calm repose was soon denied
The room became as cold as ice
I saw my breath and shivered twice
My laptop screen became bright blue
A truly terrorizing hue
I couldn’t move or close my mouth
My stomach churned, my guts went south
When suddenly a face appeared
My laptop screen a frame of fear
At first it looked an eerie glow
Then became the face of Poe!
You can imagine my surprise to see
The illustrious Poe gazing back at me
Within no time his mouth did speak
His face was gaunt and his eyes were bleak
“I plead, don’t tell me, nevermore,
For you are still my sweet Lenore
Reborn as one called Annmarie
Your new name matters not to me!”
I felt so shocked, my lips were dry
But I could not accept this blatant lie
“I am not your sweet Lenore!
You don’t belong here anymore”
Poe’s face turned grim at this remark
His eyes were flashing bits of spark
I blinked and he appeared to me
Beside my chair and touching me
I felt a chill go up my spine
As Poet let out a little whine
“Oh sweet Lenore, you are aware
I’ve come for you, do not despair”
At this I pulled myself together
And left the chair where I’d been tethered
My courage came to me at last
I reached the door in one mad dash
I took the steps three at a time
Until I reached the yard outside
I ran up the street then down the lane
My legs grew tired, I looked insane
“I must be free by now,” I said
“From Edgar Poe, the living dead”
But when I looked behind me then
Old Poe was just around the bend
Above the ground his spectre flew
And as he gained on me it grew
Above the ground his body soared
Crying out for sweet Lenore
Until his countenance did change
Into a Raven large and strange
Before I could begin to scream
Dear Poe became a scary dream
I sat up straight in bed in fright
And turned on every single light
So real was the dream of Poe
It took some time to let it go
Just in case, I checked my mail
Feeling rather weak and pale
But as all was just as it should be
To see no ghosts I was relieved
I shut the lid and went to bed
Braved the dark and shed by dread
The next day I would write this down
And steal Poe’s poetic crown
Just as I was feeling smug
I felt the blanket being tugged
When I sat up to wrest it free
Edgar Poe stared back at me!

Val B. Russell has written many wonderful things including children’s books. Check out her blog to stay current. Her poems Tic Toc (June) and Circular Motion (August) appeared at vox poetica in 2009.



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