The Vanished Family of Hickory Sticks
A chilled-to-the-bone night in October
During a fog hovering over the hills,
A West Virginia family came up missing
The story still gives neighbors the chills,
Seems their clapboard shack went up
In flames, there was nothing anyone could do.
Six people died in that house, supposedly,
No fragments were found sifting through,
No bones, no hair, not a single remnant
Testifying to the fate of the family of six
Rewards were offered for additional clues
To the vanished family of Hickory Sticks.
No fire would be hot enough to obliterate
All traces of bodies in such a conflagration
One by one the possibilities were discussed,
For years the subject of rapt conversation.
Could they have vanished to another place
After torching their home that awful night?
The strange disappearance was never solved
A memorial was built on the gruesome site.
Written October 17, 2022
[based on a true story]
Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022
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