Shivers

Wintry night, the clouds were churning
While the lightning lit the sky
The old house it shook and trembled 
As the howling wind went by.

I put out the waning candle
Total darkness all around
It felt cold, in bed I snuggled
Heard the thunder’s drawling sound.

It took ages till I drifted 
Into rough and restless sleep
When at once I felt me falling
Down a tunnel deep and steep.

Chilly hands wrapped tight around me
Felt the breathing of a ghost;
In a daze it tugged and led me
To the open ragged coast.

Had no strength or will to struggle
The cold water dragged me down
Uncontrolled the helpless feeling
Of a man about to drown.

Then I woke all of a sudden
And I saw the dawning light
Found myself all wet and sweaty
From the dream I had that night.

So relieved! I felt elated.
What an ugly fright I’d had.
Then I looked and saw beside me 
Soaking seaweed on the bed!!

-------------------------------------------
23rd October 2014
Contest: Ghosts Stories
Sponsor: Kelly Deschler
Placed: 4th
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Meier-Hans Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 5:23 PM
Returning to see the seaweed once again. Congratulations on your win Paul.
Callus Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 5:31 PM
Thank you Brenda; a re-visit is much appreciated, so are the congrats! // paul
Allison Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 7:37 AM
dropping back with my congrats Paul:-) hugs jan xx
Callus Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 12:54 PM
I appreciate your coming back with congrats, Jan...many thanks :) hugs ..... paul
Yvonne Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 6:04 AM
Congratulations on your win Paul with this superbly penned quatrain.
Callus Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 12:56 PM
Thank you Maurice; you too did a very good job with your entry! // paul
Deschler Avatar
November 4, 2014 at 10:29 PM
It is so chilling when a nightmare becomes a reality!... This was a very nicely written quatrain poem. I loved the ending! Congrats on your win, Paul!
Callus Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 1:04 PM
I feel obliged to send you a double thank you, Kelly!! Finishing on your winners' list is very much appreciated (so is your extra kind heart:)) hugs // paul
Marcum Wong Avatar
November 3, 2014 at 3:31 PM
What a wonderfully crafted poem to celebrate the night of fright Paul. I can see this one doing very well! I enjoyed it and loved your ending too!#7
Callus Avatar
November 5, 2014 at 12:59 PM
Thank you Connie...you judged correctly, for this write has found its way on the winners' list!! Take care. // paul
Kendrick Avatar
October 29, 2014 at 3:56 PM
Cute one ...Got a chuckle..A very subtle ghost story..Thanks for the visit to my page..I am glad my Haiku made you think..My cat is well fed but she loves to catch wild prey especially birds..She brought home either a large field rat or a chipmonk..She must have carried it to the top of the house to eat..Sometimes she leaves me half of her catch..Sara
Callus Avatar
October 29, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Glad you enjoyed, Sara! Thank you for the explanation:) Even my cat is well fed, but it still goes after the birds, etc in the garden! [still thinking about the lioness...does she roar when telling off her young one for being naughty?] :) // paul
Petersen Potter Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 5:44 PM
Scary good stuff Paul! I can't help but love Halloween and creepy writings like this and for me all in the name of fun.Happy Halloween! xxxx D.
Callus Avatar
October 29, 2014 at 10:50 AM
Pleased you liked my scary stuff, Dorian! I realize that Halloween is a treat both for children and grown-ups! Happy Halloween to you, too:) /x/ paul
Mcdaid Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 1:06 PM
smiling paul loved the use of seaweed wrote one myself called the seaweed monster excellent pen dear friend
Callus Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 1:58 PM
Thank you Liam...glad you enjoyed; I will go hunting for your 'seaweed monster' at the first chance I get. // paul
Yvonne Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 10:14 AM
I remember once waking up and there was my ex wife in bed right next to me. A lot scarier than seaweed.
Callus Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 1:38 PM
I think that drowning could be very simple, if one did not fight it!! ... only a matter of seconds, and no pain! No...I am not contemplating it:) Pleased you enjoyed a shiver. Your ex seems to have a sense of humour lol !!! // paul
Yvonne Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Hate the idea of drowning, it is so scary. That last line creeped me out. The seaweed in your bed. Very scary. In my case I would know my ex wife had dropped in. She does stuff like that just to torture me. I see this entry very high up on the list of winners Paul.
Chakrabarty Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 12:09 AM
Then I looked and saw beside me Soaking seaweed on the bed!! My!!! a twistfull of horror..real spook...brave Paul. A spooky love creepy hug to you xxxxRAJAT
Callus Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Hi Rajat! It is easy to be brave when we sit and write! Thank you for the comments and spooky creepy hug!! (By the way, avoid encounters with mysterious princesses...sounds fishy to me!) // paul
Chircop Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 8:26 PM
Ow gee this is different but you've mastered it so well.I love that eerie mystery of seaweed in bed ,through the end.Excellent!!!
Callus Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 12:27 PM
Thank you Charm! I'm not a ghost-writer (excuse the pun) but it was fun trying my hand at it. Glad you enjoyed. // paul
Lamoureux Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Timothy's comment resonates with me as well. I think that's why I like Alfred Hitchcock because it's not gory but mental instead.
Callus Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 4:23 PM
Hi Richard...you're back again! ... and yes, I agree with you; that is why Hitchcock was able to be unique in his treatment of scary topics. // paul
Hicks Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 12:32 AM
Sounds almost like a synopsis for a Stephen King book. Seaweed in the bed caught me off guard! Were it not for the ending I would have felt that the nightmare was close to a blessing - near death experiences make us appreciate the life we are given. But I do like this type of ghost storytelling as opposed to the blood and gore gross-out. That creepiness comes off due to that greatest fear... the fear of the unknown. Luck on the contest!
Chakrabarty Avatar
October 28, 2014 at 12:20 AM
Timothy I do agree with you.A hush fell over my mind and I was knocked down at this seaweed.Poor Paul.
Callus Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 4:20 PM
Thank you Timothy; maybe one day I too will have a best seller:) I believe that simplicity is the key to these types of poems, then a little twist will do the rest. // paul
Lamoureux Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 5:12 PM
Love it, just the right amount of creepy! Alfred Hitchcock would surely approve.
Callus Avatar
October 27, 2014 at 3:06 PM
I bow to Alfred Hitchcock....he's the master! Pleased you enjoyed...and thanks for visiting. // paul
Meier-Hans Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:10 PM
Oohwiee what a great story Paul. I love the seaweed on the bed. Freaky!
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 5:01 PM
So pleased that you like it, Brenda, especially the seaweed bit! Enjoyed your recent history in carpe diem...worth musing about! Take care. // paul
Dunn Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 11:36 AM
What spooky ghost story you've told here today my friend, I love the texturing and how you've led up to your ending the seaweed in the bed was a nice extra, It's well worth a second read later tonight, great inspirational flavor, good luck in the contest cheri
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 12:26 PM
Hi Cherl! So pleased you like this ghost poem...can't compete with your dark writes, but enjoyed having a go at a shivery write. Will go and visit your posts soon...have not been on soup as much as I would have liked due to internet problems. // paul
Horne Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 10:35 AM
ooh, great spooky write, Paul. Sure to win big. Hope you're well and having a wonderful week, my friend
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 11:11 AM
Hi Jack! Great to have you popping in...you're always welcome on here; pleased you found this spooky write to your liking. Hope you've been having a nice weekend. cheers // paul
A. Sharma Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:50 AM
Yes my patients wud be glad to know n will get all chances of taking a revenge,, testing Malaria n hepatitis on me !!!
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:56 AM
Who would want to take revenge on a lovely lady such as you, UPma?!! Have a nice problem free day:) // paul
Andresen Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:25 AM
- Really well that it was only a dream - get chills from reading it - Good luck in the contest, Paul! - oxox // Anne-Lise :)
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:49 AM
Hi Anne Lise! Dreams can become reality, you know! ...what about the seaweed!! Thank you for a lovely visit and nice wishes:) /x/ paul
A. Sharma Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 3:24 AM
Wonerful imagery Paul! Thank God it was just a fiction n not for real ! It really did give a shiver ! Gl in contest!
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:47 AM
Thank you Upma! Getting shivers is not good for you, but it's a good sign for me:) obtained desired effect! Yes, good thing it's just fiction....or is it?! :) // paul
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 2:57 AM
imagery very good.. the evening.. :D!!!! awesome have you had the spot afterall??? hugs... olive eloisa
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 7:47 PM
hahaha yes i had some shivers in my sine before :P!
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:35 AM
Good morning and a happy Sunday Olive_eloi!:) We woke up to lovely weather again today, after 3 windy and cloudy days. Did you get any shivers up your spine? Yes...that ending...I gambled all on it:) hugs // paul
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 2:58 AM
and your ending... :D nicr nice one!
Bauer Avatar
October 25, 2014 at 7:13 PM
nicely done, paul! this is a great entry for the contest - best of luck!
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:10 AM
Thank you Ilene! so pleased you like it...that's already a satisfaction for me:) Have a lovely Sunday! // paul
Allison Avatar
October 25, 2014 at 6:37 PM
oohhhhh fabulous ghostly write Paul the ending was most unexpected - good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xxx
Callus Avatar
October 26, 2014 at 4:08 AM
Hope you felt at least a tiny shiver, Jan! Glad the ending caught your attention....I based all the ghost poem on that! Have a lovely day! hugs // paul
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