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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.

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Regina Mcintosh Date: 8/19/2020 3:25:00 PM I've heard of it but don't think I watched it. I remember some old soaps my Granny watched when I was a kid, the "Edge of Night" and "Guiding Light" - This is a excellent ode. God bless you with many more delicious poems Login to Reply