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The Monster Lurks: A Micro- Poem and Creative Writing
The Monster Lurks
by John Hansen © 2013
A monster lurks in the darkness
It waits in patience
Silent and still
For me.
When the conditions are just right
It stirs from slumber
Ready to spring
To life.
I pray that it may storm
The monster fears rain
It stays hidden
Those days.
I know where it is hiding
Trying to ignore it
It scares me
The mower.
Flashback
The above poem was inspired by a piece of prose I wrote while at school many years ago. I have been looking through my old files and just came across the original, so thought I may as well share that here as well. It is totally as written when I was about 15 and unedited.
The Monster
Beneath our house lurks a monster, silent and still, waiting in patient expectation for the time when it can spring to life and obliterate all in its path. Hiding, almost unnoticed in the semi-darkness it is rarely given a second glance, it's calm demeanor effectively disguising its destructive intentions.
Anyone who enters this dark domain is carefully scrutinized in anticipation that they may be about to unleash an awesome power which lingers like a tightly wound spring trapped and straining to escape.
Although I dread this moment, the ultimate time has come. The demon has to be unleashed and as the holder of the key 'the chosen one' it is my duty to free it from its cage, bring it to life and attempt, with all my mortal strength and intellect, to control its unbridled power.
Carefully I seize the sleeping monster pushing the motionless body into the sunlight it has been denied for what seems an eternity. I open its mouth slowly and quench its thirst with a magical life-giving liquid.
Tightly grasping the strong rope encircling the creature's neck, I pull with all my strength in an attempt to rouse it from its deep slumber. The first tug results only in a feeble growl and is not enough to stir it into action. The second attempt is equally fruitless, but the third succeeds in extracting a fearsome roar and the monster springs to life eager to devour anything which dares to confront it.
Bravely I follow behind holding tightly to this creature from Hell, trying to control its fury and harness it for the good of mankind. All the while I am aware of the danger of venturing too close to the fearsome teeth of this demon, and that one slip or loss of concentration could prove fatal.
Mine is a job of great responsibility and requires supreme courage, but as I am the chosen one it is my duty, as protector of my family, to succeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here it is, the weekend again, and wouldn't you guess - the lawn has to be mowed! If there's one thing I really detest it is mowing the lawn, but it's my job and the only way out is to pray for rain. "Please God, make it rain."
© 2013 John Hansen
Comments
Yes, my mower is like that too - covered in cobwebs and with big metal teeth ready to rip your foot off. Love the ending - voted funny!
- Author
Thanks Suzanne, glad it's not just me who's a scaredy cat..haha.
I love my mower..LOL good little Micro-poem Jodah :)
Hi Jodah. This seems to be the lament for a Sunday afternoon. There's always something to do.
Graham.
- Author
Ok Frank, you can come mow my yard anytime. Thanks.
- Author
Yes that is so true Graham. I don't mind mowing really, it's getting started that I find hard. Thanks for reading.
Great! There must be hundreds who dread that monster in the shed! I actually quite enjoy mowing; gives me time to think and dream! Ann
- Author
Thanks for reading this Ann, yes mowing isn't so bad really. Glad you enjoyed.
Jodah,
I had one of those monsters for years; and then this year, I finally had to break down and get a new one. So far, the new one and I have gotten along really well. Come Spring I'll see how things are still going between us. Very Funny and Voted as such.
Blessings,
Kim
- Author
Thank you Kim, for reading and voting up. Always good when you get a new mower that isn't breaking down and being cantankerous.
Blessings to you too.
Nice surprise, lol, thanks for the morning chuckle! ^
- Author
Always my pleasure Jackie. Good way to start the day,I agree.
Lol! Very cute ending. Love it! :)
are u scared of the mower because you dread cutting the grass? lol
Awesome ending, luckily the snow is covering our horrible yard. Jamie
Ahhh...the monster mower...afraid of rain, snow, and more. What a clever write!
I got lucky, John; ours broke down. LOL
Now that was a surprise! I thought you were struggling with something really dark, perhaps from your past. Good one!
I like this one, Jodah. You are obviously not the only person who hates to use the mower! Hoping for rain is inspirational....Jaye
Voted Up++
Jaye
Funny one. I have a horrible time getting that mower started. Got a rotary push mower. Do I have any strength left to push that thing?
Ha! That was a good one! Don't we all try to shelve those things that we should do and they gradually take on monstrous proportions!
hahaha ... very good! I believe you and my husband are afraid of that same monster.
Up and more and sharing
Have a great weekend,
Faith Reaper
- Author
Wow, the first chance I've had to get on the computer today and look at all the wonderful comments for this little poem. I hope you don't mind me including everyone in this reply.
Sunny, Nikki, Jamie, Genna, Bill, Flourish, Jaye, wetnosedogs, Blossom, and Faith.
Thank you all for your kind comments. I am glad the poem was seen as funny and the ending a surprised. Yes Nikki I am afraid of cutting the grass. Faith glad it's not just me and your hubby has the same phobia..lol. I used to be frightened of grasshoppers and preying mantises too, but I'm somewhat over that since moving to the country. Blossom you hit the nail on the head. You have to get yours fixed Bill...eventually. Yes wetnosedogs getting the darn things started is often half the battle. Thank you for all the vote ups and shares.
It hates rain, indeed!
A funny lighthearted poem, Jodah. Voted up and funny.
- Author
Thank you for reading, voting up and commenting Mary. Glad you found it funny.
Wow you do have many talents. Loved it. It reads like a short funny story.
- Author
Thank you Nadine, comments like that from a writer as accomplished as you are greatly appreciated.
Haha!! That first picture.....ugh! That is awful....I think I'd take your lawnmower over that anyday! Have you tried John Deere?
- Author
Than you Sallieanne, haha, maybe I should get a John Deere. Yea thought the first pic was pretty horrible, but had good effect for the story.
If the monster mower were gone
We would own an overgrown lawn.
So give a cheer
T0 old John Deere,
A grand mower with built-in brawn.
- Author
Good one drbj..haha.
This is very clever. I will be reading the rest of the poems in this series.
Sharing and thanks - Audrey
I did not see this coming:
I know where it is hiding
Trying to ignore it
It scares me
The mower.
- Author
Thanks very much Audrey. I really had fun writing the micro-poems. They all have surprise endings, well at least that was my intention.
- Author
DealForALiving, this series of micro-poems all have surprise endings a little like flash fiction stories. Glad this one worked.
Aww--I enjoyed this John!!
love this series jodah! very eyecatching image and as always, great writing.
Mowers are pretty creepy monsters ! I missed this poem when it came out, so am glad I saw it. Very good, Jodah. I liked watching that video, it is spooky.
And I quite believe it! LOL! my brother would whole heartedly agree with you! his nearly took of a toe! great poem Jodah!
- Author
Thank you as always Audrey, glad you enjoyed it.
- Author
Thank you Kathleen. I always try to get an effective main image to get the readers in :)
I appreciate you reading this series.
- Author
So true Phyllis, I always approach mine cautiously. glad ou liked the video too.
- Author
yes Nell, I sympathise with our brother, they are scary and dangerous.
You know how many of us are thinking about bynuig a plane ticket to australia to find this place.... Such a shame that they're just rotting away, but its better than being made into hipster scum.
This is entertaining. Well done!
- Author
Thanks for reading and commenting daydreamer13. Much appreciated.
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