Mystery At the Old Wooden Bridge

(An invented ghost tale)

A tale was told how centuries ago
at one old wooden bridge, there had occurred
a tragedy, for led there by some foe,
three children, by his scythe, were massacred.

It plagued my mind what drove him to this act;
how evil could prevail and not atone!
So one dank night the path to death I tracked,
and on the bridge I found myself alone.

Then suddenly I shrank.  There loomed ahead
a disembodied soul with horror’s face.
Then circling endlessly the bridge, he fled,
as smaller ghosts with bandied blades gave chase.

Three gravestones lie nearby - no less. . . no more.
And yet the spirits I had seen were four!

An oldie for Carolyn Devonshire's Halloween Fright Poetry Contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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12
Andresen Avatar
October 16, 2020 at 10:35 AM
- Boo ... evil spirits dance for this contest:) - Congratulations on your top win, Andrea :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Stebbings Avatar
October 16, 2020 at 2:23 AM
What a fascinating and intriguing poem. Congratulations on your top place. // Barry
Chamberlain Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 1:34 PM
I really enjoyed your poem. Congratulations on your win. :-)
Leiser Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 12:25 PM
Excellent poem with great intrigue, meter and rhythm, Andrea! Congrats on your deserving top win! :)
Fowler Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 11:11 AM
A great Halloween story Andrea - so scary :) Congratulations on the win! Linda
Devonshire Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 10:03 AM
Who was that fourth spirit? You? Wow, this is a great Halloween story, Andrea. Congratulations on a first-place win! Best wishes, Carolyn
Devonshire Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 12:09 PM
Oh, thanks for the note. Great poem!
Dietrich Avatar
October 15, 2020 at 10:53 AM
it was the evil guy. The kids killed him in their ghost forms after he had killed THEM.thanks for the win!
Watt Avatar
August 14, 2020 at 8:49 PM
Creative ghost tale with a clever ending. Spooky! I can just picture you telling this at a Girl Scout campout bonfire.
Kimathi Avatar
July 7, 2016 at 4:24 PM
Congrats Andrea, for your WIN with this wonderful, fine piece!! ;-)
U.D Palawon  Avatar
July 7, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Congrats my dear this is very nice!
Negron Flores Avatar
July 6, 2016 at 6:27 PM
Congratulations Andrea on the placement of the contest.
Kayode Avatar
November 6, 2014 at 7:50 AM
Congrats Andrea,the older we become the more fear we have of the past terrible experience.This is nice.
Meier-Hans Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 4:49 PM
EEEEEEEE!!!!! Creepy. Congratulations on your win Andrea.
Allison Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 7:51 AM
very spooky Andrea many congrats on your win:-) Hugs jan xxx
Yvonne Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 6:13 AM
CONGRATULATIONS ANDREA ON ANOTHER SUPERB WIN!
Deschler Avatar
November 4, 2014 at 9:58 PM
I loved the unexpected twist at the end of this chilling ghost story! ...The wonderful rhyming made it so enjoyable to read, as well.... Congrats on your win, Andrea!
Babcock Avatar
October 27, 2010 at 11:43 AM
This kinda gave me chills those spirits on the bridge. Snow has stopped but highways are all closed. They are asking us to stay home if possible. The snow is so heavy . Did you get a heavy or light snowfall.? We are hitting -15 tonight so that is exceptionally cold for this time of year and in couple of days it is supposed to be back to 0. Luv Phyl
K. Avatar
October 22, 2010 at 5:27 AM
I knew I was stretching it! Thanks for enlightening us about it-- now it makes it even cooler! tw yup - Ipicked on your backwards name right away-- mentioned something about it in your blog-- of how I did that before as my first ever yahoo ID?? I used "okkinearzzzmesleepy" but I deleted that account-- it was too weird haha cool but weird...hugs to you-- will probably be back later to check your other writes & reply to soupmail-- off to lala land I go first--hugs again
Keogh Jr. Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 7:07 PM
This sounds like one of those classic old English ghost stories tht I usewd to hear as a kid. Nice ending out of THRILLER with Boris Karloff. I could hear him reading this! Best wishes to the best from Gerard.
Skyles-Theoklapoet Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 2:12 PM
Oh so scary gonna save this cause we all the whole family lives in the country and on Halloween we have a bon-fire and roast hotdogs and tell ghost stories and your poem will be mine.I've been in my wheelchair for 22 yrs..Teresa
Dietrich Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 6:37 AM
Anyone reading this: Gordon, who guessed the fourth spirit before I blogged about it, is correct in who he is. The way the killer became the fourth spirit is simply by returning to the scene of the crime and being literally scared to "death" by the children's spirits, who are chasing him to this day. But I loved the other creative version you came up with , Gordon, for how the guy ended up being the fourth spirit!
K. Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 3:20 AM
--opps it said it was too long again--btw love how you changed your name to Aerdna Ear Hcirteid-- I've actually done that? as my very 1st email address on yahoo, I registered it as haha: okkinearzzzmesleepy LOL-- too bad I deleted that account, was wayy too crazy! super hugs to you ^_^
K. Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 3:19 AM
Oh wow!! I just read Hicky's version below and I am thrilled with it-- WOw! I love it!! sure beats my Grim Reaper theory! this is such an awesome sonnet--I am adding this to my faves as well-- really enjoyed how you wrote this-- from the eerie feel of the write to the mystery it holds-- very very cool & chilling!
Hickman Avatar
October 21, 2010 at 3:02 AM
Andrea, I'd love to join your blog, but time presses, so here's my version. The murderer, fleeing from the scene of his crime, crossing the bridge, threw his scythe away, but it hit a tree, rebounded and struck him in the heart. He fell dead into the river, and was carried away into the sea. His ghost still apears with his victims on the old wooden bridge to this very day! Hows that? hicky.
Falotico Avatar
October 20, 2010 at 4:31 PM
So much enjoyed Andrea, spooky!!!...love Michael
Austin Avatar
October 20, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Horror of horrors! Children. Oh, my God! This is typical Andrea - totally effective. Washington Irving has turned over in his grave, then risen to give chase. LOve, Dave
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