Suspended above the clouds
captive of a swoon
what magician’s trick
hung me by the moon
life leaves me in sleep
celestial I drift
all Hallow’s calamity
my blood forever drips
DRIP, Drip, drip…
silent as the dead
the jack-o-lantern jeers
fear we now instead
notes that gave a tip
to get inside our head
wiggle with our fears
more we have to dread
a new report we get
she shot twice in the head
little ones are dear
no hallows – early now to bed
Zodiac killer rips
a community is fed
killings through the years
we can only hope you’re dead
My first poem was written before Susan put up the completion for the Poet’s United prompt: The real story what is Halloween to me? To many of us who were in the San Francisco Bay Area- Halloween meant the Zodiac killer might be on the loose. I was trying to compose a short story about this killer and what it was like as a child growing up with a killer on the loose for years. The Zodiac serial killings is a cold case; the man killed 20 (or more people) and would send chilling notes through the newspapers making his threats.
This painting is a remake of Henry Fuseli’s Nightmare. I normally couldn’t do this to art but everyone else tends to mess around with Fusseli.
Please forgive my theatrics- I am having way too much fun with blood this week.
And while the blood drips why not follow the grim reaper in catching some horror book giveaways over at Coffin Hop!
penned in moon dust 
Ah…tis the season for blood? 🙂
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I can see you’re having fun, but blood scares me.
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The moon is a lovely touch! The poem both fun and lovely as well!
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Thanks Nina cant believe you are out and about busy as this week is. Happy Coffin Hop!
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Love! The fun and the poem which is not funny at all. That Zodiac Killer left notes that did indeed get inside one’s head, and then the people were really really dead. Only fake blood is fun. This poem teeters on the awful edge of reality.
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Good that was my aim. I remember things that I could not understand as a child and forget things that we thought of this maniac.
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Someone’s hope we’re dead? Not funny at all…and I like the tittle. yes, we need return to reality, sort of ‘transfusion’ for sure to wake up, to start making our own decisions….
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Most survivors of the Zodiac years can only hope the killer is dead as its a bit unsettling to think he could still be out there.
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That would have been scary growing up there. This gave me chills.
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Two brilliant pieces..the first particularly haunting – especially with the image. I remember in my twenties going to Halloween at the Castro – I think it may have been the last one…we should always chase life…and not drip drip from the moon I guess
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Never went but heard about them..
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always entertaining to encounter horror works: movies, books, artworks, and some music. this poem was pure horror entertainment, i was horrified by all the blood mentioned, let alone the images… :-O
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I’ve been hanging out with horror writers too long they are rubbing off on me. 🙂
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I vaguely remember that serial killer, sending notes, as if mocking the authorities……….very Halloweeny poem, well done………..I especially like the first verse.
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Thanks Sherry. yes it was a taunting to the police. Using the media and the community to increase the pressure. I believe that towns took matters into their own hands to assure safety thus the odd training of children.
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This is really eerie. I am sure it was frightening living in the area where the Zodiac Killer was active. But at Halloween, it makes a great poem!
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Yes, it really does. Thanks Mary
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Scary to think he has never been caught. You write very good spooky poems. I’m watching a series on TV called the ” Fall ” about a serial killer who is a psychologist (grief counsellor) who preys on the vulnerable. I think you would like it. It is set in Ireland and stars Gillian Anderson.
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Oh thanks for sharing about Fall – will have to check it out.
They just caught what they hope is a serial killer in our area. I think he killed 4 women and a 5th lived. Zodiac killed much more …
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killing sprees… serial killers.. sometimes we wish we can’t hear about it. scary subject but the poem is a reminder of sort to everyone
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so true we want horror to be fictional. Now I wish as a child I had written a story about the whole thing. My imagination did plenty of scenarios…
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Great poem it really makes one wary to read it.
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O – M – G!!!!!!!!!!! Scary and spellbinding that grabs you to continue the read with fight-or-flight instincts!! 😀
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yes indeed – I really need to write a fiction about this scary time.
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Oh, I enjoyed your theatricality! 🙂
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I loved the image it fit into the Halloween theme – thanks Rosemary!!!
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