Home » Poems » Dean Wood » Stuck In the Cedar Chest

Stuck In the Cedar Chest

‘Twas a child’s game of hide and seek,
My brother’s turn to count.
Where could I hide he would not look,
Thus settle our account?

Our mother’s room, her closet, No!
He’ll check there first of all.
The bathroom, No! I hid there once.
The chest beside the wall!

I climbed inside that pungent box
On mother’s quilts to hide,
I slowly closed that heavy lid
Then CLICK!  I’m stuck inside!

I screamed!  My muffled cries unheard!
I’m pounding on the side!
If only I had a flash light
I’d find a latch to slide!

I could not breathe! I sobbed and bawled,
To me it seemed a week!
‘Twas a child’s game of hide and seek,
So glad my brother peeked!


August 15, 2017

For the "STUCK" Contest
Sponsored by Sara Kendrick
9/27/2017
2nd Place

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Jack Webster

Date: 9/28/2017 2:58:00 PM

Congratulations, Dean! Great poem! I'm glad you're okay! [insert witty joke about taking memory out of the chest here]

Sara Kendrick

Date: 9/28/2017 8:30:00 AM

I was delighted to see your work in my winners’ list..I enjoyed reading the work of an outstanding poet..Your participation was much appreciated..Your rhyme and rhythm was excellent..You stayed on theme and gave us some of the emotion of the situation..I have heard of children dying in these situations..Sara

Dean Wood
Date: 9/28/2017 8:33:00 AM

Thank you Sara for such a thoughtful reply. I am grateful to you for taking time to sponsor and judge these contests. They make me stretch and are a lot of fun. --- Dean

James Inman

Date: 9/28/2017 8:05:00 AM

Love the last line. Very well written Dean.

Dean Wood
Date: 9/28/2017 8:07:00 AM

Thanks James!

Constance La France

Date: 9/27/2017 4:48:00 PM

Dean, great poem, I used to live in an old house as a child and we played hide and seek in all sorts of creepy places, congratulations on your win!

Dean Wood
Date: 9/27/2017 9:11:00 PM

Thanks BW. It could have ended very badly.

Jan Allison

Date: 9/27/2017 4:10:00 PM

I can imagine this happening and being so frightening. I'm so glad the poem had a happy ending Dean, :-) congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx

Dean Wood
Date: 9/27/2017 9:12:00 PM

It was scary for sure. Thanks for the comment.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/27/2017 1:16:00 PM

You must have been terrified! Great poem, Dean. Congrats on your win! Janice

Dean Wood
Date: 9/27/2017 1:57:00 PM

Thanks Janice! It was quite traumatic.

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 9/27/2017 12:44:00 PM

Congrats on your win, Dean!

Dean Wood
Date: 9/27/2017 1:57:00 PM

Thanks Dale. Its been a while, I had forgotten about this contest.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/17/2017 4:07:00 PM

A winner! Love it! Glad you made it out!

Dean Wood
Date: 8/18/2017 9:55:00 PM

Thanks Kim! I am glad too. I always appreciate your sincere comments. Dean

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/17/2017 2:58:00 PM

- Must have been a terrible feeling ... you will never forget this game - But it was exciting :) .... (?) - A lovely poem, Dean - Luck in the contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Dean Wood
Date: 8/18/2017 9:54:00 PM

Thank you Anne-Lise! I appreciate your support.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/17/2017 6:02:00 AM

Now this could make someone become claustrophobic! To know this really happened to you sends chills Dean. I love it when poetry tells a story in such a way that family will never forget the incident. I enjoyed this much Dean. : )

Dean Wood
Date: 8/18/2017 9:53:00 PM

Oh, it really was scary, for me anyway. Thanks for the comment. Dean

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/15/2017 6:25:00 PM

Now that would be a really traumatic thing. Did it really happen? GREAT job, Dean!!!

Dean Wood
Date: 8/15/2017 10:23:00 PM

Yes Andrea, this did happen to me when I was maybe 4 years old. The only thing is my brother did not peek. I cried myself to sleep and woke to my mother screaming for me. My pounding led her to let me out. A little poetic license again. :)