Just in time for Halloween, Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog is chock-full of fun-sized stories! Susanna is hosting her 5th Annual Halloweensie Contest. The rules for this year’s contest are to write a 100-word or less Halloween story for kids, using the words costume, dark, and haunt (or any variation like costumed, darkened, haunted, etc.) If you’re reading this and it’s before Friday, October 30th at 11:59 pm, you’ve still got time to join the halloweensie parade. Visit Susanna’s blog to find links to all the Halloweensie entries.
Here’s mine:
My kind daughter put my poem on the above image (thank you, Widescreen Wallpapers!) and darkened the web line that ran through it. She also said I should post the poem without the image, in case anyone who uses text-to-speech software wanted to read it. That’s something I never would have thought of (and why I depend on my kids to keep me up-to-date.) So here’s the non-image enhanced version:
Spider’s Halloween Debut
by Buffy Silverman
Spider spun her sticky web
and scrutinized the scene below.
A ghoulish ghost and ghastly witch
were putting on a scary show
to entertain a costumed crew
who bravely watched the chilling sight.
The audience heard gruesome groans
and shivered in the cold, dark night.
Spider itched to join the fun,
to haunt, to scare, to steal the show.
She dropped a line and skittered down,
but no one looked… so she let go
and landed on the witch’s neck.
Spider scampered, spider crawled,
She heard a screech! She heard a howl!
Creepy spider spooked them all.
Happy Halloween and Happy Early Poetry Friday. Visit Jone at Check it Out for more poetry friday treats.
I just found this poem on my interwebs searching and I LOVE it! If I give you proper credit may I use it on one of my posts for my 2018 Halloween jewelry collection, Wicked Couture (www.FTDofJanuaryJune.etsy.com). We have created spider / web influenced designs for 2018.
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for stopping by–I’m glad you enjoyed my poem. Since I make my living (or what passes for a living 🙂 ) as a writer, I’d rather you not post this poem. At some point I will probably try to submit it for publication, and having it on your blog will make that more difficult.
Hi, Buffy. The spider doesn’t have to try very hard to be spooky. I love that she lands on a witch’s neck — great detail!
Gooo Spidey! Fun story with your fantastic rhyme-love it 🙂
Small but mighty – yay spider! Great action verbs Buffy – lots of fun to read!
And I need to learn that graphic software too – neat!
When I saw whose blog this was, I knew I was going to be entertained with an awesome rhyme. 😉 🙂
Great job, Buffy…and I loved that Spider achieved his goal!
Hahaha! Yay for Spider! She spooked them all 🙂 Fun story and great rhyme! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun, Buffy!
Thank you, Susanna, for putting together the Halloweensie party! I’ve had fun reading many of the creative entries.
Spider is a winner, Buffy! And I’m impressed with your daughter’s graphic talent. I hope to learn that skill soon. =)
You and me both, Bridget. Apparently you need image-editing software…but since I don’t really want to buy it or learn it, it’s easier to pass it on to someone who knows what they’re doing.
This is fantastic, Buffy! I especially love your verbs, “scrutinized,” “skittered,” and “scampered.” Good luck!
Thank you, Becky! With only 100 words, gotta let those verbs do the heavy lifting…
Love this, Buffy! “landed on the witch’s neck” . . . creepy! But so glad Spider got in on the fun 😀
Some folks know how to steal the stage! Thanks for stopping by, Penny.
I’m so glad to know why people often post the text in addition to the art/text combo. Kids these days know stuff we just don’t! Great poem, too. 🙂 Happy Halloween!
Ain’t it the truth, Brenda? Thanks for stopping by.
Very cute, Buffy – my wife hates spiders, so she’d definitely appreciate this!
Ah, probably best to let your spider-phobic wife skip this one, Matt! Thanks for stopping by.
Fun poem-story! I did a similar dance last night when I noticed an earwig crawling on the covers near my head! EEK!
Earwigs are definitely creepier than spiders IMHO. And in your bed near your head??? That’s nightmare material!
Great story, best wishes in the contest. I love all the spidery things decorating houses’ roofs and porches, very fun. The graphic for the poem is good, too, but story is super, amazing what can be told in less than 100 words!
Thanks, Linda. It’s a fun challenge to write a full story in 100 words!
Thanks so much for the collaborative effort that produced a treat for ears and eyes! Your spider-character’s grand entrance into the festivities reminded me of a Halloween library-setting picture book the little ones enjoyed safely squealing to: Littlebat’s Halloween. Poems give us that safety, too. We scream, knowing it’s ok. (Can you tell I’m not a big spider fan?) Thanks, and God bless you!
Oh I lvd the idea of this story taking place in a library story-time. If I ever expand it, I’m stealing your idea!
Buffy, with my penchant for spider texts, I fond this poem of yours to be just the right measure of rhythm, rhyme, spook, and fun for any child’s (adult’s too) Halloween night. May I use this one in Autumn’s Palette Gallery under the Halloween section? It is the right shade of black.
Glad you enjoyed it, Carol. Sure, fine to include this in your gallery.
What a terrific story, loved the creepy little spider!
Thank you, Jean!
Oh, Buffy! That was creepy. I used to have to skitter into our barn quickly to avoid the spider in the corner of the doorway that I was sure was going to do just what yours did! Makes me itch now just thinking about it!
I pictured this spider as living high on a rafter in a barn (but with 100 words or less, did not quite have the space to include those rafters.) There’s something about a spider in a barn that’s extra creepy!
Buffy, this had me slipping so sweetly from lien to line as though along a web. Splendid Spider Poem!
Thank you, Joanna (and what a poetic comment!)
Eeek! Spiders! (I like the image, but what a super thing to do to include it in the text. Very thoughtful!)
I would never have thought to do it–but now that I understand the reason, makes sense to include the text.
That gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Good job and good luck 🙂
Thanks Christie!
There is NO WAY I could read this to my full-grown son! Yikes! Super poem – I love spiders!
I guess your son did not inherit your spider love? Thanks for stopping by.
Wonderful poem, Buffy. I especially like, “She dropped a line and skittered down.” Your creepy spider gives me the shivers! Happy Halloween!
Thanks Gabrielle! (shivers are good calorie burners–and then you can dip into the Halloween treats 🙂 )
EEK! Fabulous poem, Buffy, and it looks even more fab on that graphic. What a creepy team!
Thanks, pal–your collaboration with David inspired me to write this one!
Thanks for stopping my blog and I love your poem! Yes, a spider can scare and creep. 🙂
I have a fondness for watching them outside. Not so much inside.
Aah! You’ve given me spider shivers and skittery itches, Buffy. Love your poem and presentation! And that Emma… she’s a keeper.
Thanks, Michelle (and yes, you are right about the daughter.)
November 5th update: Congratulations on your win, Buffy!
This is excellent, Buffy! I loved it!
Glad you enjoy it, Cheryl!
Ooo! This one is fun. It’s moving up to the top tier of my list! Great rhyming and a complete story with character and a super twist. Great job!
Thank you, Heather!
Buffy–I love what you did with your poem and, with your daughter’s help, the image. The last line is perfect.
Thanks, Liz–I appreciate it!