Halloween Sequence
written by: Dennis Maulsby
from gray-black thunderheads
witch fingers flash
split trees
ceiling vibrates
from the attic
maniacal laughter
the clock pendulum
cuts
the head off a mouse
under the porch
a tangled nest
of zombies
wrapped in fog
growing louder
the rasp of claws
bites my heel
a skull hides
in the cemetery grass
tomb lid grates open
bone dust—rotting shroud
a zombie rises
foiled by my
garlic spaghetti breath
a vampire refuses to bite
Dennis Maulsby lives in Ames, Iowa. His poems and short stories have appeared in The North American Review, Mainstreet Rag, The Hawai’i Pacific Review, The Briarcliff Review (Pushcart nomination), and on National Public Radio’s Themes & Variations. His traditionally published books include: ‘Near Death/Near Life’ (MWSA gold medal winner), ‘Free Fire Zone’ (MWSA Silver medal winner), ‘Winterset’ (Eric Hoffer Award winner and Global Ebook gold medal winner), ‘The Fantasy Works,’ and ‘House de Gracie’ (Reader Views and Global Ebook Silver medal awards). Maulsby is an associate member of the SFWA and past president of the Iowa Poetry Association.
Latest posts by Dennis Maulsby (see all)
- Halloween Sequence - October 19, 2025
- The Laws - June 30, 2023
- Children - December 24, 2021
