READ THE LADLE

On that fateful night of carnage, he'd been downing gin and garbage,

chugging gallons past the corkage, slurring oaths I'd heard before

as I watched the bottles piling, I heard laughter turn to howling

then he sent for me to rummage filth he’d hoarded in the drawer

“Just one swig,” he croaked and staggered pointing t'ward the kitchen drawer

"Just one swig, and nothing more."

"Please", I begged, "you've had your measure, leave it be, forsake this pleasure"

But he scoffed as if at leisure, eyes ablaze like fiendish ore

"Fetch my bottle, wretched woman...I don't need your blessed sermon

don't you dare arouse my vermin...didn't I ask for just one more?"

When I stood my ground he rose and hurled my frame across the floor

Then his rage began to pour.

Then his hands began their speaking, fists like thunder fury leaking

he ignored my painful shrieking, struck with wrath to settle scores

as I faced the blows heart leaping, through the walls, the past was creeping

and the house itself was weeping, for the sins it couldn’t store

and the lantern swung like lightning, casting shadows seen before

ghastly shadows of yet another sordid tale of blood and gore

tales I'd far too long ignored.

When I stood up, body aching, every vow within me breaking

I could sense my spirit shaking, couldn't pray now anymore

suddenly there came a tapping, t'was a black bird, wings-a-flapping

and at once I started clapping, eyes transfixed upon the boor

then a ladle tucked behind me, I crept t'ward the drunken 'whore'

Quoth the Raven, "NEVERMORE!”

This poem was written for Luana Campagna's Haunted Poetry Challenge on Instagram. Participants were asked to write a poem in the style of one legendary poet from among Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, Federico Garcia Lorca and Christina Rossetti.

I chose to write mine in the style of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven. Hope you like it.