Las Animas

Las Animas

Light intones creeping darkness in unfinished overtures 
 Of fallen leaves scraping against a broken path
  Like distant footsteps faintly heard in rising mists
   Of incensed passages leading to a yard 
    In growing shadows where life reflects back to life
     With dates that start and end in chiseled granite,
Stone angels keeping watch, upon this night of hallows,
Passing through a creaking door, silently closing in swirling fog,
 To feel an outstretched palm hovering above the spine –
   Skin rising up in prickly terror with sweating palms 
    As trembling hands brush at unseen cobwebs 
     Like brittle tendrils caressing red hot cheeks
       Uncooled by moaning winds of twisted chaos -
Stumbling in a dance macabre of shades when two worlds collide
Until twelve bells releases fiery fingers of unheard screams 
As las animas finds stars upon the other side of midnight.

9-24-19
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 6:00 AM
Congrats on your winner. Way to go. Very descriptive of this autumn. Sara
Kauffman Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Hi Sara! Thank you for your congrats! Growing up there was a small, historic cemetery behind our neighborhood. We would go in there at night and scare ourselves silly. Those experiences laid the foundation for this poem. All the best! Harvest blessings to you!
Watt Avatar
October 30, 2020 at 9:10 PM
Well done #1, the night before Halloween, Sam! Big congrats and spooky blessings, my friend!
Kauffman Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Thank you my friend! I wanted to try and capture some of that spine tingling, hair raising, "boo!" of Halloween all the while knowing we are rejoicing in the victory over death! Clubhouse feeling a little haunted! Eat! Drink! and be Scary - just for tonight! :o
Watt Avatar
March 20, 2020 at 8:41 PM
Sam, the spooky story is something I've never done. You do it so well! Great images ~ John
Kauffman Avatar
March 21, 2020 at 1:11 PM
Hi John, again thank you for your insightful messages! They are so helpful as I continue writing!! This piece was originally written one Halloween night, then edited. I love the spookiness of that night - not the gruesome or horrific of current films. Was hoping to capture that feeling through images that were visceral.
Dietrich Avatar
December 8, 2019 at 1:41 PM
wow, such description!! You write GREAT, Sam. I see this was a win . CONGRATULATIONS
Kauffman Avatar
December 9, 2019 at 3:49 PM
Hi Andrea. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Once again, I am honored by your feedback and blessed by your "congrats."
Mcgee Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 11:37 PM
Love how you built the scare. Congrats on your win.
Kauffman Avatar
October 14, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Hi Jeanne, Thank you for your feedback. This was a fun theme as I love the spookiness of Halloween!
La France Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 2:02 PM
Sam great write and congratulations on your win in the contest!
Kauffman Avatar
October 14, 2019 at 1:34 PM
Thank you for your good wishes and congratulations. I am so glad that you enjoyed this poem as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Kitchin Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 12:21 PM
Sam, congratulations on your winning placement with your eerie poem!
Kauffman Avatar
October 14, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Hi Tania, Thank you for this wonderful theme at this time of ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night!
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