Best Deathchildren Poems
Nightmare from the jungle
Vampire Bats attack cattle and people
Transmitting deadly rabies
When they carry the deadly virus
Some indigenous children have died
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Albtraum aus dem Dschungel
Vampierfledermäuse im nächtlichen Angriff
Überträger der Tollwut
Wenn sie das tödliche Virus tragen
Indiokinder mussten sterben
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Pesadilla de selva
Vampiros atacan al ganado y gente
Transmisión de rabia
Cuando ellos llevan el virus mortal
Algunos niños indígenas murieron
Note: To follow the rules of a Takna the German and Spanish translations vary from the
original English one.
The Great Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) attack mainly farm animals e.g. cattle, goats
and sheep but also attack and suck blood during the night of people. If the carry the
deadly rabies virus they can kill man. Just recently four indigenous tribe children in the
border area of the Amazon jungle between Perú and Ecuador died from the deadly infection.
I SHUDDER WITH FRIGHT, I SHUDDER WITH FEAR
YOU WILL BE DISTURBED BY THE STORY YOU’LL HEAR.
SHE SHOWS NO MERCY, YOU HAVE NO WAY
YOU CAN GUARANTEE, YOU WILL NEVER SEE DAY.
IT HAPPENED LONG AGO,
IN A COTTAGE NOT FAR FROM HERE.
FOR THE WOMAN WAS GENTLE
AND NEVER SHOWED FEAR.
SHE LOVED TO COOK, SHE LOVED TO BAKE
SHE LOVED EVERYTHING FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
SHE MADE TREATS AND GOODS, FOR THE CHILDREN AFAR
SHE’D COME AND VISIT THEM, NO MATTER HOW FAR.
THE TOOTHFAIRY SHE BECAME KNOWN
SHE’D COME TO EVERY HOME.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS LEAVE A TREAT
IN EXCHANGE FOR CHILDREN’S TEETH.
TWA’S DECEMBER, IT WAS COLD BUT SECURE
FIRE CAUGHT TO HER HOME, WHICH IT WAS NO MORE.
HER FACE WAS SCARRED, FROM THE BURNING FLAMES
SHE MADE AN OATH, NEVER TO COME OUT AGAIN.
THE VILLAGE MEN WERE COMING TO THE SAVE
THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD FINALLY SETTLE IN THE GRAVE.
SHE CAME OUTSIDE, SHAKING WITH FEAR
THE MEN STARED AND STARED AT THE WAY SHE APPEARED.
TWA’S FOUR YEARS LATER
TWO CHILDREN DISAPPEARED.
LOOKING AROUND THE VILLAGE
THE PARENTS SHUDDERED WITH FEAR.
THE CHILDREN WERE ON THEIR WAY
TO THE TOOTHFAIRY’S HOUSE.
BUT GOT LOST ON THE WAY
NOTHING WAS AROUND, NOT EVEN A MOUSE.
THE TOOTHFAIRY WAS BLAMED, ON HER NECK WAS A NOOSE
SHE TRIED TO GET AWAY, BUT COULD NEVER GET LOOSE.
THEY LOOKED AT HER FACE, ON THE TREE SHE WOULD HANG.
FOR THEY SAW NOTHING BUT GUILT, AND TO HELL, SHE’D BE ON HER WAY.
LATER, THE CHILDREN WERE HOME, AND NOTHING WAS WRONG
FOR THE PARENTS, HOWEVER, COULD HEAR THE TOOTHFAIRY’S SONG.
THEY KEPT IT THEIR SECRET, NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW
FOR THEY CUT DOWN HER BODY, AND BURIED IT UNDER THE SNOW.
THEY TOOK ONE LAST LOOK AT HER FACE,
FOR HER INNOCENCE, AND THEIR IGNORANCE, IT WAS A GREAT SHAME.
THEY SAID THEIR PRAYERS, THEY SANG THEIR SONGS
FOR THE TOOTHFAIRY’S SAYS “YOU’LL BE COMING ALONG”.
THE END
(For JHL's 'Hauntings')
I tempt my fate with tree branches. Each and every night
I walk home from my bus stop as darkness drains the light.
I pass by St. John's Cemetery and shoot a wayward glance.
Ominous rows of tombstones bewitch me in a trance...
...
I see them: people resting, strangers from our world
in peace together side by side, in death a bond unfurls.
I picture souls of children who died before their time
from some forsaken circumstance, severing ties that bind;
Bind them to their bodies, their families and lives
only to contract melanoma at tender age of five.
Are these children angry? Will they come after me?
As here I stand upright and tall, full grown and healthy?
Do ghosts even exist? Can I ever be sure?
This hallowed ground, crowded yet empty, contaminated yet pure.
...
There's no way I can know for sure what lurks behind those gates,
but all these thoughts fill me with panic...I'm through with tempting fate.
My walk turns brisk and rapid, I shift my pace to run.
My run leads to a sprint, I pray the ghosts don't come...
My sprint gives to a dash, my feet can't find their grip
In darkness I am blinded, on a fallen branch I trip.
One by one they all line up
The smell of charred remains fills the air
"Get in line for a shower!" they shout
The men all line up with despair
"Take off your clothes and shoes,
So we can rid them of dirt and germs."
Most of the older men here
Have already come to terms
The children obey so dutifully
Their only want is to please
They don't know what lies in store
As they stand there naked, beginning to freeze
The "Shower Room" is now packed
The children are becoming afraid
They don't know that becuase of religion
Thay have a debt to be paid
The lights go out and the flames begin
The soldiers try to block out the screams
They remind theirselves they're just "doing their job"
One that will forever haunt their dreams.