So, Marley Was Right After All

The frozen soil crumbled,
          falling into my eyes and horrified mouth,
               as I gripped the sodden roots on the rim of the pit,
     my strength waning, (and my will).

At the bottom of the hole, a wooden casket,
          yawning like the jaws of Death itself,
               lid open and shaking like a splintered tongue,
     the glow of Hell's embers below it ...

flames licking its sides and reaching up to the soles of my feet,
          but not with heat, rather, an intolerable coldness
               that made my marrow ache for an end.
     As my grasp weakened,

and the roots of the twisted old tree slipped thru my hands,
          I looked up at the stars, winking like candles,
               and said a prayer for my soul,
     the crooked, bony finger of the Reaper

wagging with reproach,
          his coal black eyes sparkling and lifeless,
               as the sky drew away ...
     and I fell ... to my wretched doom.







~ 1st Place ~  in the "Contest Number 535 Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/8/2019 2:45:00 PM

Congrats on your winning work. Way to go. Sara

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/9/2019 3:59:00 AM

Thank you so much, Sara - blessings! :-) <3

John Hamilton

Date: 12/28/2018 8:58:00 AM

Yeah some days I feel like that too, have another coffee, shake the cobwebs from the mind (or maybe not this is great writing) had me captivated... holding on for dear life with you....but as you would say... all for naught!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/31/2018 12:31:00 AM

Thank you so much, John, these forays into the classics are so much fun, and that's what gave me the idea for my current contest, (perhaps you'll try it?) ... I don't read ANY until all the entries are in, so it will be a while, but I can't wait! :-)

Harry Horsman

Date: 12/26/2018 4:15:00 PM

Wow, is this a dream?, any how, love the poetry,,,Greg to you and your family. Happy New Year.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/31/2018 12:29:00 AM

Thank you very much, Harry, I greatly appreciate it ... as far as it being a dream, only Dickens knows that answer, but I like to think those ghosts were intended to be real. THIS poem is just a "what if", an alternate ending to a classic, where Scrooge usually wakes up, this time he's not so fortunate. A bit of fun! :-)

John Lawless

Date: 12/26/2018 8:16:00 AM

....AN UNDIGESTED BIT OF CHEESE...,maybe switch to DECAF, stop watching the 11 O'clock news....Poor Bob Cratchet is screwed ..... and what of Tiny Time....A wonderfully dark "chuckle" in this one Greg....

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/31/2018 12:27:00 AM

Thank you so much, John, I love to delve into these classics and stir things up a bit, what ... especially the Christmas classics - fun! Blessings, my friend! :-)