Bone-Skull
Published in Chronogram, 2025
I am two
alone in a room,
bathed in the weight
of a bellyache gloom.
alone in a room,
bathed in the weight
of a bellyache gloom.
A clock on a shelf,
pictures hung about,
and a fireplace where my terror comes out.
pictures hung about,
and a fireplace where my terror comes out.
Tock-tock the clock.
Chime-chime the time.
Cold air in the chimney,
next chime is mine.
Chime-chime the time.
Cold air in the chimney,
next chime is mine.
And Bone-Skull floats
from out the fireplace,
once about the room
then a-bobbin bout my face.
from out the fireplace,
once about the room
then a-bobbin bout my face.
Then Bone-Skull chatters,
teeth a-clatter,
“little one, little one
what is the matter?”
teeth a-clatter,
“little one, little one
what is the matter?”
I tell you now,
of the terror felt then,
of the endless grin scrim-scrawled cross its chin.
of the terror felt then,
of the endless grin scrim-scrawled cross its chin.
I am small,
I no-where to hide.
Bone-Skull is old
and won’t fit inside,
I no-where to hide.
Bone-Skull is old
and won’t fit inside,
a hidden cupboard
kept for coffee and tea,
saucers and tumblers
and toddlers like me.
kept for coffee and tea,
saucers and tumblers
and toddlers like me.
But, tap-tap the knock.
Rattle-rattle the door.
Tock-tock the clock,
Bone-Skull wants more,
Rattle-rattle the door.
Tock-tock the clock,
Bone-Skull wants more,
of my terror behind the cupboard door.
Bone-Skull chatters,
teeth a-clatter,
“little one, little one
what is the matter?”
teeth a-clatter,
“little one, little one
what is the matter?”
I mattered a scream
grown two full years,
it all came out,
the haunting
and tears.
grown two full years,
it all came out,
the haunting
and tears.
The chimney howls.
The fireplace flashes.
And Bone-Skull burns–
The fireplace flashes.
And Bone-Skull burns–
ashes.
ashes.