The Music Box

The melodic tinkle of the music box moved her.
She arose with her pretty tresses and floor length silk
toward the shadows that possess treasures of death.
Like a grandfather clock with metal prongs and teeth
it plays a lovely song that draws the gothic lass
into the abyss. Her temporal time harnessed 
by a young girl’s dreamy track, “dum, dum, dum,
da, da, da, dum, dum…” In reminiscent fog
of childhood, Cassandra moves with the innocence
of a toddler, with the outward aplomb of a zombie.
When, at last, she is in the spiderweb, her senses
come around. She still can’t flee and the shadow
becomes a man, a thing, unthinkable - she recognizes
his hypnotic countenance, his eyes an unimaginable blue,
his face paler than a ghostly child, his cape - a shroud
about his shoulders. He hums, “dum, dum, dum,
da, da, da, dum, dum…” A guttural scream, she
recognizes vibrates from her own lips. The monster
allows the chase and caterwaul within his space.
Melancholy and madness, take hold, as her neck is bared
and she becomes one of the undead. Only released
from the melody’s hold, when she she sinks her teeth
into an innocent victim, but alas, she also is reminded
of her past life, so cold, she weeps. The progenitor laughs.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
October 15, 2023 at 7:02 PM
Eegads. I'm scheduled to accompany Boris and Natasha to the cemetary at midnight. Think I should push that off a bit. lol. Grisly-good stuff, Kim!!
Rodrigues Avatar
October 16, 2023 at 5:58 AM
LOL! Thanks. You want spooky…true tale - Senior year high school rode with friends into graveyard at midnight…it was only snowing in the graveyard. We were like..let’s get out of here…lol.
Brotherton Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 7:11 PM
A creepy tale for the Halloween season, my friend.
Rodrigues Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 8:23 PM
Thank you!
Pandit Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 4:27 AM
A splendid tale that kept me glued to your page my friend. Both intriguing and spooky, jus as intended--aptly done for the season, Kim.
Rodrigues Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 8:23 PM
Thank you, Vijay!
Legros Kelley Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 3:05 AM
Very spooky Kim! Eeks, really!! This is a good for this time of year!
Rodrigues Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 8:24 PM
Thank you, BJ!
Buhagiar Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 1:46 AM
the outward aplomb of a zombie: good thing I can distinguish fantasy from reality. I have written fantasy poems, so I know. Your poem is worthy of an elegant poet. Great tale. Hugs and blessings.
Rodrigues Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 8:24 PM
Thank you so much, Victor! Hugs and bless,
Allison Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 3:34 PM
perfect for the Halloween season, your poem was creepy indeed:-) hugs Jan xx
Rodrigues Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 5:05 PM
Thanks, Jan!
Baker Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 3:24 PM
An engaging Halloween tale, Kim. Well written and an intriguing read, my friend. Thanks for sharing your prose with us. Bill
Rodrigues Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 5:05 PM
Thank you, Bill!
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