My first dark poem!

NIGHTMARE AS THE COIN TURNED


Last all hallows eve we were all having a party
The kids ran riot, having great fun
Even the grown ups had joined in dressing up
Drink and chat flowed back and forth
I went into the front garden to breath cool night air
Moonlight flooded this arena, battling with shadow.
Looking up an owl settled atop flickering streetlight
Fixed its stare toward me, opened its full wingspan
With an owls’ cry it swooped, fast, I ducked, aaargh!
As I regained my feet, I felt blood fall down my cheek
That was when I first felt this woman’s touch
She had removed a tissue from her sleeve
Wiping away the blood she reached up kissing my mouth
I pulled away, our eyes met, flustered I went back in

One by one they left except these two couples
Retiring to the lounge, I opened a full bodied red
By this time with much to much drink inside
I failed to notice that one remaining couple
Still wore Halloween garb including tissue lady
Towards midnight we were drinking a ruby port
Started telling stories of spiritual encounters
As the flickering streetlight flickered its last
Shadow regained ground as the moon was veiled
I could swear I could see that owl framed by our tree
All stories, as we told them, grew increasingly spooky
Gradually more and more outlandish with each tale
Instead of being scared this couple grew excited
She was sucking the tissue stained with my blood


Firelight had reduced to occasional flickering flame
Sent shards of light out causing shadows to dance
The masked couple began their tale of Flextown
At a time when St Michaels Church was first built
The grave yard extended for miles crossing waterways
This house was built on its edge where no plant grew
The was where the travellers were buried alive
Vowing to return each hallows eve for fresh blood
Nobody had known how they had arrived to Flex town
Gender was revealed as deaths door scraped closed
The only clue, a spinning coin next to its victim’s body
With that the unmasked couple got up in a hurry
She could be heard screaming down the street
Husband in chase, shouting back he’ll collect the car

The story teller smiled wickedly, blood on her chin
He reminded of that 6ft plot next to my shed
Where no matter what, not the hardiest plant grew
The lights went on quick, “Coffee, doughnut, anyone”
“Sorry I stuck my finger in one to put jam on my chin”
The story teller said walking to the kitchen to wash
I went in with the glasses and to make the coffee
Her eye met mine, “look sorry about before, I didn’t …”
She ran back into the room hastily grabbing their coats
They both left hurriedly arguing between themselves
We never heard from the couple who had left their car
The police report said that their slashed bodies were found
With a spinning coin and an owl wings spread atop a streetlight
By post, we got a blood soak coin, either side a man and woman.
The spattered note, within simply said, “maybe next time”

© Phil Golding 31.10.2007

Happy halloween, Phil.

Very spooky, this one.

At first, it seemed almost sexual ... the woman, vamp like, some kind of attraction there both ways, methinks.

I'm surprised that as you were the last to see them alive you weren't taken in for questioning, under the circumstances. That bloodstained coin might be evidence, you know. Better hand it over.

There could be follow ons of this, or little sub plots elsewhere.

It had me gripped.

hi Darren

Me and vamp like women, I don't know what you mean!!!

Thanks for feedback. I have roughed out plots for a follow up piece and a series of dark poems/stories. Could there be a book in this? maybe one day


Read this to coolleges at work and they got the image of the material shown on the show 'Tales of thr Unexpected'.


Cheers

Phil