A little Halloween fun. I spun this tale yesterday on AllPoetry and thought my WordPress readers might enjoy it.


It is the sort of house that appears suspended midair.
A spiderweb, all points and connecting lines.
I pass through gate of wrought iron
in a black fly suit, unafraid of the ghastly design
enticed by the one-eyed glow
of Amarynth’s bedroom window,
although she’d told me never to visit
her after dusk, and there I was
with bouquet of chocolate cosmos,
their petals pools of fresh blood
hardening in the chilly air.

The season has already killed off the grass,
and I practice the lines I’ve memorized
but they sound dry, flimsy, crass.
“I’ve come to see Amarynth,”
and
“Yes, we are young, but desire to be betrothed,”
and,
“I’ve come to ask for the hand of your daughter.”
But as I step farther, the sidewalk gets taller,
and the stairs ahead are rotten, weak, and hollow.

Above scans a gargoyle’s doubtful eyes,
his stony mouth gaped wide,
as the flickering bedroom light
reveals more than one shadow inside.
And I wonder how I came to this strange place
on a moonless night?
How will I untangle myself from the
long legs of Amarynth,
and her ghostly white lies?

Laughter from the parlor,
either mother or father.
Through window, lights out,
and before I reach the skull head knocker,
I abandon foolish hope, turn to go,
but behind me creeps a sinewy shadow,
two hands upon my neck,
and I can only let the silken fingers
that once twisted me in pleasure
tighten around me as my eyes close.

© 2022 | K.Hartless

9 responses to “Enmeshment”

  1. Tom Avatar

    Great haunting buildup that pulls the reader in, K, with that chilling cliffhanger ending! 🏚️🕷️Beautifully written 🎃👻

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Tom, I’m very grateful for your encouragement. 🕷🕸 Here’s to the season of spinning.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I love the spooky narrative of this darkly romantic poem, K!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Ingrid. It was great fun to craft a visit to this spooky setting.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Great work, K, I loved the build-up! ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Tiff.

      Like

  4. Well done K.. you covered all the basis for a spooktacular Halloween! 🎃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Cindy. I just love a spooky house story and as many times as it’s been done, it’s a trope I enjoy again and again. I hope you had a wonderful Halloween.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh that’s awesome..I did thanks!!! ❣️

        Like

Leave a reply to Cindy Georgakas Cancel reply

Trending