Tails, no Heads by Maureen GlaudeHows a phantom body
to get a head
and not keep The Hollow
from sleeping?
In New Englands old Dutch Tarry Town
the Galloping Hessians head rolled free
blown off by a cannonball that took him down
which caused him to spook from the evil-eyed elm tree
near the graveyard, to the roads and woods all round
and his corpse and horse to nightly leave
the tomb in search of that long-lost crown
a mercenary soldier ghoul who villagers believe
has never settled down
Brom Bones cavorts on Daredevil, his steed
while his rival Ichabod, no skilled equestrian
rides Gunpowder, in equal hope to impress Katrina Van
Tassel, whos fair indeed
but winning her desired hand
proves to both of them the lesser hassle
than mere survival in this bewitched land
for theres something heavier than romance
in the air and
its tough to catch any rest down there
in the valley of the haunted Zee by the Hudson River
the schoolmaster Ichabod trembles most, to make
his way on the spectre-storied roads at night
for fear the Hessian on hooves will overtake
and on the timid traveler, evil incite
but to blame a disabled ghosts not right
think of the difficulty of his plight
for one so uncerebrally endowed
its pointless for him to crane his neck
as it holds up nothing now
how the Hessian finds his way is a mystery
but somehow he manages well unless
he ventures onto the bridge, goes the story
where he turns into flames or a skeletal mess
who can condemn or further stress
the dark rider simply storming
toward the brook
to have a look
for his old doming?
with no recollection of his own
demise of the part his body bemoans
and no longer stocked with cranial contents
or their container
hes not adverse to the violence
in taking off at any pretense
someone elses as a retainer
on nights when the Hessian-seated steed appears
in true gothic fashion with thunderous rears
even atheists turn religious here
praying for a silver crucifix and the Lord so dear
to provide safe crossing into the clear
and keep them sound, mind and limb just right
at least for another Sleepy Hollow night
09/23/2003 Posted on 10/14/2003 Copyright © 2024 Maureen Glaude
Member Comments on this Poem |
Posted by Kate Demeree on 10/14/03 at 09:39 PM *smile hug*.... I like this Mo... *grin*... Sleepy Hollow has ever been one of my favorite places this time of year. |
Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 10/15/03 at 04:41 PM This certainly did the trick...now I'm all set to watch Johnny Depp again in the latest incarnation of said story. Thanks for the highly entertaining reminder! |
Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 10/16/03 at 08:44 PM Hi Maureen, welcome back! Great take on the headless horseman! Sleepy Hollow resurrected! Now come the vampires and bats! |
Posted by Charles E Minshall on 10/17/03 at 12:13 AM Great stuff--Welcome back Mo......Charlie |
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