Whilst raking through some of my old writing books I came across a poem I wrote in secondary school when I was 13 years old, which I thought may fit this month’s writing prompt. It was January and coming up to Burns Night and we were asked by our English teacher to come up with a poem inspired by Robert Burns, where we were to try to use some made up words. Bearing in mind this piece is now 27 years old and Tam O’ Shanter it most certainly isn’t, I hope it still entertains 🙂
FEAR
I quibbed and fleetered ‘cross the moor,
the moon had long since taken cover;
the dark intensified the gloom
and passed a shiver down my spine
‘Twas then I stumbled on a sight
enough for skin to crawl and cringle,
a shape much darker than the night
was cindling right in front myne eyes
My fear grew even greater now
for ‘twas a demon formed like man
An’ round his gruki figure low
were skeletons of ghastly dead
The shape looked up and stared at me
My blood turned cold, my skin went pale
The scene was such I gave a crie
And then I rin – rin like the wind
Skitling and scootling, ritling and rootling,
critling and crootling, I rin like the wind
The wind went whistling through my hair
My feet weren’t getting anywhere
The demon and his boney army
came clattering after, trying to harm me
I could hear them getting closer
I could feel them getting near
I could sense their growing anger
Help me please, I’m full of fear!
Skitling and scootling, ritling and rootling,
critling and crootling, I rin like the wind
At last the town had come in sight
A little hope replaced the fear
I saw the safety in the light
and so my feet went skitling on
Skitling and scootling, ritling and rootling,
critling and crootling, I rin like the wind
If only I could make the town
the demon would not follow me
And so I rin on homeward bound
and still the haunts came clottering on
I made it; they could chase no more
I heard the demon shout and roar
In case you think this was not true,
just remember, I did warn you!
(c) Elizabeth Frattaroli
elizabeth frattaroli 