Thomas Carney Poet Free verse

The Sacrifice

(a place no one has ever been)

We live out in da country
Miles away from anyone else
Papa and six boys, well, we're young men now....just sayin
Momma died at childbirth when baby brother was born
Love it here, cept at night, sleepin through “the howlin”

Big old wood frame house, island by grassland; den da forest
We keep a farm of pigs, goats, even cows; what da heck for ?
Every night Papa slayed an animal; laid it at da edge of da woods
Never new why until he called us six boys together one creepy night:

“Boy’s, listen to me, listen good….your Papa’s dying, 
It won’t be long
The last 20 years, your Momma and I set out here a sacrifice
I don’t know what in God’s name is out there
This thing ain't human
Notice how it’s quiet for a while so you can get to sleep
It’s feeding time
Damn right, it’s eating the sacrifice
Long as we put them dead animals out
We live
When I’m gone, it’s up to you six 
Be my Nightwatch, ya hear me boys !
You all are men now
I love each one of you very much”

Father finished da story, den...
Said no one ever been in dem neck of doze woods
He bought property twenty (20) some years ago;
Prior owner told him da whole story

In a  way I look at dis big monster as our protector
I've heard screamin at night, den da 'howlin'
O man, den dis loud munchin, chompin, chewin masdacated cry
Den more 'howlin'
Call da police ya say?  No way.  We safe...
So long we feed him, or it
At night: WHOAAA am scared to death

Papa's been gone a few years now
It’s up to us six to offer up da sacrifice
Every night

We older now and don’t all nestle up in one bed
Howlins still be, but we sleep at night best we can
Hated killin doze animals, deys didn’t do nuttin wrong
Dares no other way; we twied once and almost got ourselves scavaged alive

Am not goin out dare, never, not to
A place where no one has ever been

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Malvika Shanker February 21, 2015 at 11:43 AM Hey Thomas...amazing work.!!! Good going... Thanks for sharing it. Malvika :-) Thomas Carney February 21, 2015 at 11:00 PM Tank ya

Gene Bourne October 2, 2014 at 12:25 PM You use a form of meter in your free verse I have yet to identify. It must be your gift in plot and character development. Composed with suspense, sprinkled with your use of "dialect" all equal an excellent poem, Thomas....YF....Gene. Thomas Carney February 21, 2015 at 11:02 PM No defined or set meter in this Gene......can you employ meter in a free verse narrative? I know I took a risk at the "dialect" and never really did it that way before, but why not try something different, huh? Thanks for your pithy comments. Thomas

Liam Mcdaid September 26, 2014 at 4:46 PM really excellent story Thomas Carney September 27, 2014 at 9:10 AM Thanks for reading this liam.

John Posey September 26, 2014 at 4:44 PM What da heck, Thomas! Whach Yall go'n do when all dem animals run out. Dat may even be some scarier time.... Git out now.... Jake Thomas Carney September 27, 2014 at 9:11 AM "Preciate" you Jake. Glad you got into da stow ee. Thomas

Sara Kendrick September 26, 2014 at 12:01 PM Unique story told as the Halloween season approaches..Enjoyed reading it today..Thanks for the in depth breakdown of my Haiku..It could have been a freaky frog the tree frog kind hanging on the wandering jew but it was just a simple waterdroplet which survived against all odds with the wind whipping in gust up to 30 mph..Thanks for the visits..Sara Thomas Carney September 27, 2014 at 9:13 AM Thanks Sara I loved that Haiku of yours and pondered it for quite some time, visualizing the water droplet.....but then I got that silly frog in my mind. lol Thomas