John Gondolf Poet Narrative

The Ghost of Boggy Creek

Long ago when I was younger, yearn for knowledge I did hunger,
heard about a rumor going ‘round.
Twas a legend told for ages, passed along as time turned pages,
strange as any tale twas ever found.
Rumor said that near the quicksand, lived a ghost back in the swampland,
ghost of Boggy Creek always abound.

Curiosity engulfed me, through the bog I yearned to sightsee,
learning for myself the swamp’s mystique.
In the backwoods shadows shaping, Cypress trees with grey moss draping;
eerie was the scene at Boggy Creek.
Sights and sounds were so alarming, fear of finding something harming, 
making me to feel so very weak.

In the dark I wandered wading, light of day was slowly fading,
slowly fading was the summer breeze.
Wading through the swampy water, searching for the spectral squatter
squatting in the swamp amongst the trees.
In the shadows echoes screeching, piercing screams my ears were reaching,
eerie screams that brought me to my knees.

‘mongst the Cypress lurked a vision, eerie figure prompts decision,
my decision turn around and run.
Running faster, screeches blaring, right behind the image glaring,
thinking that my life was almost done.
Suddenly was in the clearing, left behind the ghoul was jeering,
jeering for more terrorizing fun.

In the clear, my sweat was dripping, from the chase as ghost was nipping,
nipping ever closer to my soul.
In the sky the moon was waning, my composure was regaining,
gaining back my strength from ghoulish troll.
Ne’er again will I go wading, in the bog, ghouls haunt invading,
tempting fate in baleful boggy bowl.

It’s been forty years since searching, boggy mash for demons lurching,
hoping just to get a ghostly peek.
No more do I have a yearning, to this bog won’t be returning,
wondering about this swamp’s mystique.
I will tell you that the legend, never ever should be questioned,
after showdown deep in Boggy Creek.

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Roger Turner July 27, 2018 at 10:56 PM you need to do an audio version of this poem John. well done indeed. spooky background music. John Gondolf July 28, 2018 at 5:31 AM Thanks for your comments, Roger, I appreciate it, and thanks for the suggestion, I may have to do that. John

Pandita Sietesantos July 23, 2018 at 3:33 PM Oh, I definitely enjoyed reading this creepy tale. It brought back memories of listening to scary campfire stories and urban legends. Excellent, hair-raising narrative, John! Hugs. Pandita John Gondolf July 23, 2018 at 3:48 PM Thank you, Pandita, I'm glad you enjoyed my ghost story. I have another along these same lines that I just finished up; I will post it later this week, stay tuned... John

Andrea Dietrich July 13, 2018 at 6:48 PM I enjoyed the interesting style of taking the last word of a line and starting next line with it. I think it's a special form and I've used that practice myself once or twice but can't think what is called. Good and creepy one! John Gondolf July 13, 2018 at 10:34 PM Thanks, Andrea, I didn’t know it had a name so I looked it up, it’s called a chain verse. I was trying to mimic some of the techniques in The Raven as well as the same meter in some of my lines. I’m not sure it went over very well because I haven’t had many comments. John

Heidi Sands July 12, 2018 at 12:07 PM Very suspenseful writing John. Well done :) John Gondolf July 13, 2018 at 4:46 AM Thank you, Heidi.

Tom Cunningham July 11, 2018 at 10:25 AM Love your spooky tale John, I went to Boggy Creek in Florida, thankfully didn't see your ghost lol. Tom John Gondolf July 11, 2018 at 10:40 AM Thanks, Tom, I've never been to Boggy Creek but with a name like that it should have a ghost. I think there was a movie in the '70's called The Legend of Boggy Creek but it was about big foot. John