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Halloween's Evil Visage Cometh

Halloween’s Evil Visage Cometh

Halloween’s Evil Visage Cometh now alive in this famous predestined time
Where dubious shadow shades run a riot as the ghastly ghosts of darkness,
Begin calling to all goblins, ghosts, ghouls, and witches in the graveyards;
To come alive—as black cats call out their signals to all lost souls seeking, 
Powerful black magic spells to aid the spirits of ancient alchemists as they
Brew their potions to dull the senses and conjure all the evil spirits on Earth.  

A falling silver-layer mist appears as these uncanny evil spirits invade our
Mortal plane and lost ghosts appear as hungry human skeletons looking for 
Sustenance and seem to be horrified at the stillness broken by a death-cold.
They scream as bloodless fingers touch cold shivers without a warm heart; 
And who knows for sure the sad and mournful song from an ancient grave,
As “The Undead” conjure ravenous demons seeking warm blood to feast on. 

Blended into the dust are the crows whose shadows as a “Dark Phantom,”
Begin to form and take his shape—yet fear not the potent occult light as
That special Halloween Eve super moon beams brilliant and bright making  
Its presence known as your destiny and destination are already decided as
The Ancient Alchemist beckons all of us to drink widely from his mystical
Chalice of Darkness as all malice is reconciled—the birds and beasts speak.
 
Life as we know it is offered upon the Demonic Alter as the Dark Phantom
Initiates all human sacrifices as a drool-dripping envy of all existence drops; 
And the lustful and vengeance-seeking Vampires scrape along the walls as
Sharp poisonous thorns begin tearing behind their secret inner-vision as the 
Deep-dark and dismally-damp curtains open and eclipse the radiant dawn as
An unpleasant and horrible pain visits and our heartbeats grow faint and stop.

An unending agony screams sonorously as a deafening silence falls over us. 
In this “Land of the Dead,” they make their own laws overwriting all limits,
As a vile, creeping, malevolent mist crawls down into the valley deep below; 
The Devil's Advocate slithers on in a nasty, vicious way under your own skin,
As shivering timbers of truth of a living being watches outside our bodies on 
This Halloween Eve as our individual dreams enter the Twilight Zone forever! 

The Devil’s clever wizards and witches concoct an ancient poisonous mixture,
As the boiling cauldron of demonically-enhanced soup is stewed with care and 
Fresh toads, spiders, worms, beetles, ticks, and tiny black snakes are added in.
This unholy and potent poisoned soup from centuries past is now blessed by
The Dark One—to take life from the living and give nourishment to the dead,
As the veil between The Living and The Dead disappears on Halloween Eve!   

Gary Bateman, Anne-Lise Andresen, and Liam McDaid
A Collaborated Poem, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
(October 1, 2015) (Free Verse)

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Theresa Cw Date: 10/31/2015 12:29:00 AM Big Congrats to three fabulous poets which gave them a big winner. Great poem as usual. Gary, Anne Lise and Liam... I so totally agree with what Jan has said. I'm looking forward to reading as yet another of your fabulous books; Eve gave me her book that she bought of yours. A 7x7 and more.... Cheers to you Gary. Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/31/2015 1:04:00 PM Hello Theresa!! Happy Halloween to You!! Thanks so much here for your wonderful comments and the Top Rating!! I know that Liam and Anne-Lise will be quite pleased as well. (At this point with Halloween Eve and all, I'm done for now with dark themes, but might sneak one in every once and a while!!). Let me know how you like my book. I hope you enjoy it!! Again, my best wishes!! Cheers, Gary

Jan Allison Date: 10/6/2015 2:56:00 PM many congrats on poem of the day I am more used to seeing your romantic writes but this dark write is awesome! :-)hugs Jan xx 7 Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/7/2015 5:47:00 AM Jan, Thanks for the congrats and the "7"!! Yup, I went all-out on this co-write with both Anne-Lise and Liam. For October, I told my wife, Ingrid, I will be in a dark-theme mode the entire month. After that, I'll blend back into romance and all the other types of themes. (I'm presently writing a Novelette, in fact, for my second book called: "The Evil Warlock of East Wexford." But I've also balance that venture into horror with a romantic short story called: "My Dream Lover.") I still like doing Dark Poems though for Halloween though!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Kp Nunez Date: 10/2/2015 8:22:00 PM Hello Gary, Anne and Liam! I don't normally go for dark writes especially with gory details but I can see why this was chosen Poem of the Day. Congratulations, my friends! You've taken your 3-way collaboration to another level and it's very inspiring! 7 and hugs! Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/3/2015 1:25:00 PM Hello Kim!! Thanks for you read and comments here of our rather dark write. Halloween is, of course, upon us. I know that Liam and I, more so than Anne-Lise, tend more to dark poems during this special month. We had written a few last year as well, but this one ended up being the darker-side of dark. We were surprised at the responses we received on this write. Thanks for the "TR" as well!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Sandra Haight Date: 10/2/2015 7:31:00 PM Hi Gary, congrats to all three of you for this outstanding dark Halloween tale. Excellent write! And congratulations for it being featured Poem of the Day! Sandra Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/3/2015 2:14:00 PM Thank you so much from me and on behalf of Liam and Anne-Lise. I'm very pleased that you liked this rather dark Halloween tale, and I know that Liam and Anne-Lise feel the same way!! Cheers and Best Always, Gary

Alexis Y. Date: 10/2/2015 6:45:00 PM Gary, l just stopped by to say congratulations on getting the poem of the day! You all penned great collab :-)Alexis 7 Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 6:55:00 PM Thanks Alexis so much!! And for the 7!! I know that Anne-Lise and Liam will be thrilled by your comment. All the Best and Have a Great Weekend!! Cheers, Gary

Afolabi Muideen Date: 10/2/2015 5:52:00 PM What an extreme excellent write dear friend......you all did a great deal of work for penned this excellent piece. Congratulations for being featured.........A.M. Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 6:02:00 PM Hello A.M. Yup, all three of us really went all-out in constructing this very dark theme tale for Halloween!! Thanks so much for your read here and gracious comments here. Cheers and Best, Gary

Dorian Petersen Potter Date: 10/2/2015 1:33:00 PM Hi Gary, Anne-Lise n' Liam!This is an outstanding Halloween poem that you've penned here my dearest friends.Excellent piece!Very evil,scary and creepy but beautifully written.Great imagery! Wonderful collaborations!Congratulations on POTD!Just awesome!I'm so very happy n' proud for the three of you!Perfectly done! You all deserve it!Your pens are mighty golden!A 7 to each! A Fav!Wishing you a very lovely weekend!In His light God bless you always!:)Love n' hugs!xoxox D.^O^ Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:17:00 PM Hello Dear One Dorian!! Thanks as always for you reads and for the Congrats, and for the 7 + FAV!! I think all three of us kind of egged one another on with the scary dark nature of this write. (I know that Ingrid found it an amazing write, but told me some parts of it were awful and really scary, to whence I replied: "That's what it supposed to be as a heavy-duty dark theme write for Halloween!!" BOO!! (I rest my case -- HA! HA!) Best Always, Gary

Poet Destroyer A Date: 10/2/2015 10:25:00 AM Hi, Gary, a wonderful 3-way collaboration. Congratulations on the poem of the day. LINDA Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:06:00 PM Hello Linda, Great hearing from you!! And thanks for the Congrats. (I know that Liam and Anne-Lise may be making some additional comments too!!) We kind of went all-out on this very dark write to help get the "Halloween Spirit" underway in the Soup. This write certainly exceeded our expectations, and I'm pleased we've received such positive responses to this write. Thanks again!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Miraj Raha Date: 10/2/2015 9:37:00 AM Congrats to 3 of you for being selected POTD. Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:09:00 PM Miraj, Thanks so much on behalf of Anne-Lise, Liam, and me!! I know that we are all gratified by the positive responses we've received on rather dark-theme write. Cheers and Best, Gary

Eve Roper Date: 10/2/2015 9:11:00 AM Congratulations on Poem of the Day, Gary, Anne-Lise, and Liam!!!!!! Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:31:00 PM Hello Eve, Thanks so much for your Congrats to Anne-Lise, Liam, and me on our dark theme write here for Halloween!! I know that I'm quite pleased (as I know Anne-Lise and Liam are) that you liked our theme write here. Happy Halloween, and Best Always, Gary

Liam Mcdaid Date: 10/2/2015 8:41:00 AM congratulation gary nice to see the month kicked of with this sending chills to the bones smiling also anne lise thank you both for the pleasure of this piece also thank you everyone for the heartfelt really beautiful comments wishing you all a blessed weekend Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:35:00 PM Hello Liam Mate My Dear Friend . . . I think the Old Leprechaun Choir of Yore will be singing all three of us some rather bone-chilling paeans of praise on this darkest of dark write. It was indeed, my pleasure as always to work with you and Dear Anne-Lise scary Halloween write!! BOO!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Gary

Constance La France Date: 10/2/2015 8:18:00 AM Gary, a big CONGRATULATIONS on having this wonderful poem selected as Poem Of The Day, enjoy the honor ~~ Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:26:00 PM Hello Broken Wings!! Thanks so much for your very gracious comments here on POTD, on behalf of Liam, Anne-Lise, and me. (I need to get by and check out your latest poems too.) I suspect you'll be doing some great dark theme writes too this month!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 10/2/2015 7:33:00 AM - A BIG HOORAY !!!! - However, I must say they are skilled these three poets :)))) - CONGRATULATIONS X 3 !!!! - hugs // Anne-Lise :)) Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 5:23:00 PM Hello Dear Anne-Lise!! I obviously share your enthusiasm too about our team effort on this wonderfully scary Halloween write. It was my great pleasure, as always, to work with you and Liam on another great co-write. I'm very pleased at the results of our effort here. (Remember you started this whole thing with the original ideas you shared with Liam and me!!) BOO!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Gary

Casarah Nance Date: 10/2/2015 6:52:00 AM A wonderful threesome claiming the poem of the day selection-so very great to see! Grats for the whole lot of you! :) Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 6:55:00 AM Thanks CAS!! I'm sure that Anne-Lise and Liam will be responding separately. I didn't know we would be selected here for POTD. (We were hoping to get Halloween started off with a really nice dark write -- HA! HA!) Best Always and Have a Great Weekend!! Gary

Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 3:49:00 AM Hello Sandra, Congratulation on the POTD honor!! A most excellent sonnet indeed. Cheers and Best, Gary Login to Reply

Liam Mcdaid Date: 10/1/2015 5:25:00 PM reading this piece again complete just blew me away both your pens thank you for the kindness in gelling together really a pleasure Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 4:18:00 AM Liam Mate!! It was a great pleasure my friend to work with you and Dear Anne-Lise on this rather gruesome write. (I thought the idea for the multiple ingredients of the "demonically-enhanced soup" was just right for this type of dark theme Halloween poem!!) My pleasure always to work with you guys on any theme. Cheers and Best, Gary

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 10/1/2015 1:07:00 PM - If anyone believe that Halloween is the season for little ghosts and goblins two take to the streets, asking for candy ............. no, this is the story of Halloween !!! - As I said yesterday: - An amazing (and awful :)) poem, I can hardly believe that we three have written this :))) - Thanks for the super cooperation, Gary and Liam !!!!!! - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 10/2/2015 4:30:00 AM Hello Dear Anne-Lise!! I was off-line yesterday after getting our co-write with Liam posted; away on family business. I certainly agree that this poem is on the darker side of dark. "Amazing and Awful" was pretty much Ingrid's reaction to our mutual write here. (I'll probably pass on eating any soup for a while, especially if it comes from a "boiling cauldron" HA! HA!) My pleasure always to work with you and Liam on any theme of interest!! Cheers and Best, Gary