If Grampa Will
came back as a ghost,
I think he'd have
a marshmallow roast,
and howl with glee
when he did see
poor granny fainted
under the willow tree.
Poor Granny Em
when she buried him
on Falcon Hill,
said he would burn,
and never return.
She'd wished him killed.
Will heard it all,
from within his pall.
Will slapped his knees,
bony as could be.
He was quite dead,
yet still he said,
"I'll get Em back
for that verbal attack,
lying in a coffin
hearing her yak!"
"She nagged me to death,
plain stole my breath.
I owe her one,
and will not rest
until the deed's done.
When Em revived
she thought Will was alive.
How could he survive?
She'd pushed him down
the hill, that clown.
She saw him buried,
his corpse was carried,
put 'neath the ground.
Will made a sound,
moaned in the wind,
"You killed me Em,
but I'm back again."
Em clutched her heart
her marshmallow fell,
Will grinned and said,
"See you in Hell!"
then Em was dead.
As Will's ghost fled,
I heard him yell,
"I feel quite well!"
Author notes
If Nancy Hanks
Came back as a ghost,
Seeking news
Of what she loved most,
She'd ask first
"Where's my son?
What's happened to Abe?
What's he done?"
"Poor little Abe,
Left all alone
Except for Tom,
Who's a rolling stone;
He was only nine
The year I died.
I remember still
How hard he cried."
"Scraping along
In a little shack,
With hardly a shirt
To cover his back,
And a prairie wind
To blow him down,
Or pinching times
If he went to town."
"You wouldn't know
About my son?
Did he grow tall?
Did he have fun?
Did he learn to read?
Did he get to town?
Do you know his name?
Did he get on?"
Stephen Vincent Benet
A contest entry
- Ghosts by Judith Chandler.
690 points, ended November 8, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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good one. Thanks for using the Old Poetry prompt in this comic way.
And thanks for entering my contest. -
Awesome...
Fun, funny & raises a smile yet has that creepy undertone to balance the scales...
Wonderful imagery, great storytelling & intriguing rhyme that enthrals throughout...
Keep up the good work...
Well done!!!
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funny
clever and entertaining, I really enjoyed the story.
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Oh lol I thought this a priceless read! I sure hope this is meant to be funny because i was giggling my head off!~ Poor Em! Love this piece
Best wishes in the contest!
Gaylene
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Definitely s'posed to be funny
-
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