The A Mused Poetry Contest 10/24 – 10/30/2020

Chel Owens

It’s the week before Halloween here in the United States! Let’s look to amuse with some boo’s!

Here are the spooky specifics:

  1. Our Theme is What’s behind the mask? Did two socially-distanced first-daters face a nasty surprise? Perhaps the Phantom of the Opera revealed an embarrassing birthmark? You decide, and you write a poem about it!
  2. Keep the Length manageable, at between 3 and 153 words.
  3. Rhyme if your crystal ball tells you to, but don’t if it’s not in the cards.
  4. There’s no need for tricks regarding Rating. You can scare your victims readers and keep things clean.
  5. However you choose to cast your spell, my dear, ensure your Halloween brew is brimming with humor.

You have till 10:00 a.m. MST next Friday (October 30) to submit a poem.

Use the magic form, below, to remain anonymous for a week.

Otherwise, include your spellbook poem or a link to it in the comments. Drop a comment or conjuring crystal if your link-back doesn’t show up by midnight of when you cast it.

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Happy haunting!

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Photo by Ariza Chrisananda on Pexels.com

©2020 Chel Owens

26 thoughts on “The A Mused Poetry Contest 10/24 – 10/30/2020”

  1. The Masque of the Covid Death (With apologies to Edgar Allen Poe)

    As midnight tolled the fateful hour
    A new guest appeared
    Amongst the revelers
    Rheumy eyes
    Stared from the mask
    A cough shook the frame
    Prospero, angry yelled
    “Halt, false fellow
    For we do not
    Like your Covid-like mask
    Who are you
    To be so bold?
    Show yourself!”
    The guest
    Dressed as the very victim of the plague
    Walked from room to room
    None dared bar his way
    He stopped in room Seven
    The room of Black and White
    Prospero raised his AR-15 rifle
    “Unmask yourself now!”
    But when the guest turned
    Prospero fell in a coughing fit
    The other guests
    In their madness
    Tore the mask from the new guest
    To their horror
    An N95 was beneath
    And then they knew
    There was no escape
    And Darkness and Decay and the Covid Death
    Held illimitable dominion over all.
    (OK, the last line was borrowed from Poe, about word for word 😉 )

    Liked by 3 people

  2. What’s behind the mask?
    Stop it, not so fast!
    Wait, what’s in the cask?
    Poison? Poison you say?
    Too bad
    If only he had been more vigilant about his mask
    He wouldn’t have drunk from the cask
    Oh well
    Time for the coroner’s task

    Liked by 2 people

  3. De-masked

    I have no idea
    why you feel the need to wear
    that fabric mask with style.
    You’re so naturally ugly from ear to ear
    that Covid19 cowers in fear
    and droplets run a mile.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Night Of The Giving Dread.

    We’re fast approaching October thirty-first
    When once again good folk shall be cursed
    By that gnawing feeling of impending dread
    As the spirit of Gluttony raises its ugly head.

    ‘Twill be the night of Halloween
    When every pre-adolescent ‘tween
    Unbidden, comes a’rappin’ at your door,
    That ain’t the kinda rap you can ignore.

    They’ll demand a trick or treat,
    The trick is- give ’em all they can eat,
    Dole out them candies from the bowl,
    Better being poor than have an empty soul.

    Dish it out and don’t dare ask
    What sweet child’s hiding ‘neath that mask?
    Just kindly smile while putting on your happy face
    A’praying the overladen urchins don’t egg your place.

    Prompt at midnight, switch off the porch light-
    Witching hour is done, Children Of The Night –
    All pure but poor souls, sit back and enjoy the hush,
    Soon ’nuff you’ll hear some kids full-on sugar ru- flush.

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. I missed the deadline, but here it is anywayz 😉

    What’s behind the mask?

    What’s behind the mask?
    You might well ask,
    but as well you might not want to know.

    For I have as many
    as needed, nigh twenty
    to choose from to wear
    for the daily show

    But if you dare look beneath
    that care-crafted sheath
    to what’s hidden
    deep, down below

    You may fear what you find:
    Though my smile is kind,
    danger lurks in my Shadow

    Liked by 1 person

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