Premiere Contest WinnerOne Night In a Haunted Manner

I missed a blind corner one grim stormy night,
On a dark forest road, with no phone.
The crash was severe, but what gave me more fright
Was I had to walk out all alone.

A mile, maybe two, and there loomed into view
An imposing stone manor, quite old.
I felt somewhat spooked, but I guessed it would do
For relief from the drizzle and cold.

Despite my loud knocking I heard no reply,
Though some embers from somewhere glowed red.
The door opened wide when I gave it a try,
And its groan somehow filled me with dread.

I crept toward the flickering warmth where I found
A mere wisp of a man in a chair,
So pale in appearance he hardly seemed sound—
Like a shadow that’s only half-there.

I saw he was napping and hadn’t a clue,
So decided to give him a tap,
But to my amazement, my fingers went through
His left arm and right down to his lap!

I gasped in sheer horror and rushed out the door,
Though I never before had believed
In spirits or hauntings or vampiric lore,
So I wondered if I’d been deceived.

This mystery troubled me long years ago,
But I now understand it: you see,
That car wreck I mentioned was fatal, and so...
The ghost wasn’t him; it was me.

---

Date Written: January 16, 2019
Contest: One Night in a Haunted Manor, sponsored by Tania Kitchin
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Aranas Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 9:46 PM
Hello Ed! You have such a wonderful cpmposition.
Aranas Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 9:47 PM
Smith Avatar
February 5, 2019 at 1:22 AM
Ed, your poem is hauntingly sad. Very brilliantly written, never expected the ending
De Beaulieu Avatar
February 1, 2019 at 6:32 PM
Hello Ed Morris, your ending to this poem is spooky. have a nice evening my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
February 3, 2019 at 7:49 AM
You are welcome my friend. Have a nice day .
Morris Avatar
February 1, 2019 at 9:43 PM
Thank you, Darlene.
Milgate Avatar
January 30, 2019 at 11:15 PM
Really enjoyed this, not sure if that a good way of describing the affect? But thought it was quite well written and clever!!
Morris Avatar
January 31, 2019 at 2:30 PM
Thanks, Linda. Glad it affected you in some way, whether or not enjoyment is a good description. :-)
Jeavons Avatar
January 26, 2019 at 7:26 PM
Ed, this was fabulous! I really enjoyed it! Especially the ending. Good job! Susan
Morris Avatar
January 27, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Thank you, Susan. Glad I could amuse someone besides myself. :-)
Awtry Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 9:29 AM
I love this poem! It's rhythm, rhyme, the story, the twist! BRAVO!!!! Congratulations!!!!
Morris Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 10:57 AM
Thank you, P.S.
Watson Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 7:29 AM
It's all been said below,Ed. A well-deserved win and the arm incident gave me a flashback to 'The invisible man' by H.G.Wells. Your rhythm and rhyme were as always impeccable!
Morris Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 10:57 AM
Thank you, Wendy.
Gilmour Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 3:25 AM
Congrats on you top placement Ed, your poem truly deserved it. Compelling to read and a great ending. Kindest thoughts Ann xx
Morris Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 10:56 AM
Thank you, Ann.
Fairchild Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 9:48 PM
This was just great! The rhythm kept me rolling along, reminds me of James Whitcomb Riley! Ingenious!
Morris Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 10:56 AM
Thank you, Andrew.
Leiser Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 8:17 PM
Excellent story, flow and great twist at the end! Your poem was fantastic and deserved top spot, Ed! Congrats on your win! :)
Morris Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 8:31 PM
Thank you, Laura.
Roper Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Nicely done, Ed, you have created great imagery and feeling on your well written poem. . Congratulations on your win . Hugs Eve ~`*
Morris Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 7:50 PM
Thank you, Eve.
Devonshire Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 7:07 PM
WOW!! What a captivating story told in verse with a Hitchcock-like twist at the end. Didn't see that coming, Ed, and am so glad to see your poem placing first in Tania's contest. So very well-deserved! Congratulations, my friend. You seem to be on a roll with success. Hugs, Carolyn
Morris Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 7:19 PM
Thank you, Carolyn.
Kitchin Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 5:12 PM
Excellent spooky poem Ed, love the ending, congratulations on your first place trophy win!
Kitchin Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 6:17 PM
I also really liked your play on words with the title, "haunted manner", it was very fitting with the story!
Morris Avatar
January 23, 2019 at 6:01 PM
Thank you very much, Tania. It took me awhile to come up with an idea for this contest, but once I did, I had a lot of fun writing it. :-)
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