There once were three soldiers who dwelled in the dark
holed up in a cellar, escaping orders.
Their regiment wandered, their regiment ran
direct into enemy hands.
The muskets that felled them were heard in the field.
The soldiers stuck tight, stopped their ears to the sound.
They never could muster the will to go out
and see what then lain strewn about.
They lived off provisions within the basement
for more than a year for the owners had fled
but when these ran out, they had grown very weak
succumbing to death in that week.
Tormented and guilty by what they had done,
three comrades in death rose to haunt the prison
where once they'd found sanctuary from the guns
and lived off a year's provisions.
Now haggard and lonely they comb the floorboards;
on duty, they pace them from down there below
the realm of the living who dwell overhead
remarking the sounds of the dead
yet never encountering tracks in the dirt
of footprints belonging to three deserters
who hang like the bats from the boards overhead
but feeling their presence brings dread.
The owners now boast that their basement is rife
with ghosts from the Revolutionary war.
A regiment fell in the yard they now own
though the tale there beneath them's unknown.
Author notes
A friend told me about the Revvy War soldiers in her basement though the idea of having them be deserters and walk upside down on the overhead floorboards is my own embellishment. Vermont was a haven for both Colonial and British deserters, though.
A contest entry
- Halloween Horror and Fun - Adults 18+ by The Fun House.
1050 points, ended November 21, 2008, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Ghosts, Witchs, and Wolves Oh MY!!!!!! by Falcon SilverWolf.
450 points, ended December 18, 2008, 12 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Cool & spooky ghost story...
Atmospheric narrative that enthralled throughout & didn't fail to raise a shiver...
Congrats on a well deserved shiney...
Well penned, well versed, Well done!!!
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Great tale ea, very entertaining. Congrats on the bronze. Take care and Have fun. Steve
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Ohh this is very well done. Nothing like a ghost tale, especially at Halloween time. Great imagery in this piece too!
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this is fascinating! I do love how you embellish
just superb writing, my friend. love, lane
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Love your supernatural poems. Always a wonderful twist inside. You should compile these in a special place (so I (and others) can easily find and enjoy them all)
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This piece had OUTSTANDING flow. wow. it was so smooth I could just sail on it.
I love the rev war. I'm a HUGE fan of the Patriot. Heath Ledger <333
When I was younger and going over it in school I wanted to write a story that took place during that time. Maybe I shall after reading this.
You created a fantastic tale and gave it so much spirit. (ha pun!)
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Beautifully concieved and wonderfully well written.
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