Influenza - Writers Forum

**Penelope** · 04-27-2004, 08:52 PM

She’s hiding below the stairs,
in the closet where nobody goes,
hoping she’ll lose her bewares
tucked away from demons and foes.

Oh Coffin Cart Queen.
Begone from my door.
I know what you mean.
You’ve been here before.

Hearing guffaws and cackles
clamoring down the hall
raising her nape hair hackles
cause the banshee’s come to call.

Stay away from my mother
and stop your screeching wail.
Last Spring, you took my brother.
This time, your visit will fail.

Wary about her breath,
heaving in fits and starts,
gulping each saviour from death
as a shadow flickers and darts.

Oh Witch of the Reaper,
you’re at the wrong address.
Don’t delve any deeper.
We’ve suffered enough duress.

She scrunches up in a ball,
clamping her eyelids real tight,
snugging up close to the wall,
she wishes with all her might.

Harridan of the gloom.
You’ve made a mistake tonight.
There is no impending doom.
My family’s safe from plight.

There’s a scrabbling at the portal.
A long gnarled nail slides beneath
slyly beckoning at the small mortal
to accept the sickle’s bequeath.

Oh Coffin Cart Queen.
You shan’t be denied.
When you visit the scene.
There’s nowhere to hide.

With a rattle, a wheeze,
a flash of white light,
On a bewildering breeze
her soul’s swept out of sight.

PFA
27/04/04

Kat · 04-28-2004, 06:55 PM

Very well done. I was just studying different cultural interpretations of the grim reaper. I like the way you've portrayed the banshee. The banshee and the grim reaper don't go well together for me. But I guess that's just because I was researching them. The banshee has a companion. A headless chariot driver with one white horse and one black. He escorts souls to thier final resting place.

**Penelope** · 04-28-2004, 07:11 PM

I'm of Irish decent and while I know of the chariot I was reaching for more familiar connections between harbingers of death. Even most of the Irish people do not know about the horses or the sidekick. The Coffin Cart Queen does refer to it but vaguely.

When I was in Ireland only one teller of tales spoke of what you mentioned. The Irish take great pleasure in scaring the bejesus out of folks either from home or abroad. All it takes is a willing ear. I'm very impressed with your depth of knowledge and I thank you sincerely for your comment!

The poem is written with a memory of when Influenza epidemics took millions of victims. Horses have quite a few connections with death and destruction. Their colour is usually significant too.

I'd be very interested in any more information you have on this subject as I wouldn't mind writing another poem about banshee visits.

Kat · 04-28-2004, 07:22 PM

http://www.pantheon.org/

This site has an encyclopedia of mythology and folklore. There wasn't much under Banshee but it's also called Bean Sihde sp? There was more info unde that and the other Bean one. Can't remember now. I just used it as a starting point.

**Penelope** · 04-28-2004, 08:48 PM

I just looked it up and a headless coachman?! Shades of Icabod Crane and Hallowe'en. It states the horses are both black which makes more sense to me.
Many thanks! I've added it to my list of favourite sites. When I write the second poem I'll be sure to post it here Kat. Thanks again!

Beatrice Boyle · 04-29-2004, 02:50 AM

Brings back so many memories, as a child hearing the old Irish folklore stories. The wail of the banshees could be heard everywhere...no place to hide indeed! And yes, it did scare the beJesus out of my siblings and I! Great Poem Pen.

scryer · 04-29-2004, 03:19 AM

It's Been A LONG Time,

I like this one...I'm Irish too! Tis' the little people and changelings that get me goin'.

I really missed this place, and your wit Pen.

**Penelope** · 04-29-2004, 08:48 AM

Hello my dear abysmal poetry compadre! I've missed you too!

Kitten Courna · 04-29-2004, 01:11 PM

Good poem Penelope, quite enjoyable.

It was hair raising, to say the least, but also entertaining in that way in which entertainment comes from morbid learning. Give the rhyme a little more kick, and you'd have something akin to 'Ring around the rosies'.

Well done poem, as usual, and very very interesting.

-Kitten

**Penelope** · 04-30-2004, 10:12 PM

Kitten - funny that you should mention 'ring around the rosie'. When I began writing this it was with the intention of only having the verses referring to the banshee. I added to it to give a sense of the child's fear and underlying knowledge of who the banshee was seeking. I'm interested in death rattles and who shakes the chains when it comes to the end. My mother knew she was dying for a few weeks before her stroke. I knew too because I composed a second poem about her New Year's Eve. The significance of choosing that date was lost on me because I didn't know at the time. Since her death, I've thought about it a lot. I feel blessed to have those urges to write without knowing why. It's been a source of comfort.

Georgie · 03-15-2005, 11:24 PM

i was looking for poems about banshees this is really wonderful

gohn67 · 03-15-2005, 11:27 PM

Haah, jeez Penelopes having all her old posts brought back out from the depths of the forum today.

Quote:

Oh Coffin Cart Queen

Absoultly loved this line.

THis poem was a really good poem. I liked the rhyming too because it felt natural and not forced.

**Penelope** · 03-16-2005, 09:26 AM

Banshees are less known than leprechauns and often mistaken for some other harridan. Of all the Irish folklore, I like banshees best. Almost like the Grim Reaper. Thanks for bringing this back from the dead Georgie.

gohn - seems like I've started a resurrecting trend huh? Great timing on this one coming back to life. I wasn't even thinking about St. Patrick's Day when I wrote it. You know someone could write a limerick out of your signature line? Green berets and all.

Maybe I will ..