Ode To Dark Shadows

This is a simple ode, To a soap opera from some time ago. It was called Dark Shadows. And it’s still one of my favorite shows. It aired from 1966 to 1971. Watching the show was a lot of fun, On our old tube color television. At 3:00pm the TV I would run. It spanned 1225 half hour episodes. If I binge watched them all now in a row, My head would surely explode! I was sad to see the end of the show. It’s a bit campy and surreal, But it has a dark gothic feel. When I was a kid, the deal Was that I thought it was for real. I was set in Collinsport Maine, On an estate called Collinwood of the same name. And the wealthy Collins family, a bit eccentric and strange, Was Collinwood’s claim to fame. It featured Barnabas, the vampire ghoul. I thought he was really cool. Every day I would run home from school, To watch Barnabas and Willy his servant fool. I was a Dark Shadows freak. I saw every episode each day of the week. I was in love with Maggie and Angelique. When I got older, their autographs I would seek. When I was a stupid little impressionable kid, I fancied myself a vampire, I did. I would pretend to be a vampire at night amid, The trees Looking for a victim to bite and bid. I would always run around and pester, And annoy my little kid sister. Then I would play the sheriff of Collinwood and arrest her, For being a witch’s ancestor. I would pretend I was transported instantly like Vickie during a seance to the 18th century With Barnabas, Josette, Angelique and me I have a big strange imagination you see. Yes, I’m a gothic, Dark Shadows Vampire buff. I can never ever get enough, Of the eerie, scary terrifying stuff. Staying up ‘till midnight isn’t so tough. I watch Dark Shadows on cable television, And dream and pretend I was a kid again. I really enjoyed the shows back then. Now I get the chance to watch and enjoy them again. My dream came true at a 2012 Dark Shadows Convention, When I met Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker in person. Both lovely ladies; sweet, beautiful and kind and pleasin’. I was star-struck and in love with both beyond reason. The old gentleman himself, Johnathan Frid was there as well. But he was much older and in frail health. But he gave a talk; ever a source of Dark Shadows info wealth. I even got his autograph which I will cherish and never sell. Another gentleman I got to meet played Quentin, David Selby. He made me feel very welcome; we took pictures, even a selfie. I also met several other members of the Dark Shadows family, Roger Davis, Donna Wandrey, Marie Wallace, and Jerry Lacy. I was very saddened to hear of when Johnathan Frid passed on. Another one of my favorite Dark Shadows stars was gone. I was also very upset with the recent loss of John Karlen. I remember Joan Bennett, Thayer David and Louis Edmonds. I’m one of those fanatical, crazy Dark Shadows fans, yes. You could say that again and again, I guess. I watch the show religiously from the bloopers to the best. If you’ve never seen it, give it a try; it’s a great show I attest. So, I drink a toast to the Dark Shadows cast. I get to be the host at last. I drink a drink for no other reason, Save it is the time of the season. We get the ghost at last.