Halloween poems

In the spirit of Halloween I'm posting two poems that I wrote in the first workshop I ever took many many years ago. Back in those early days I wrote a lot of murder mystery poetry at my colleagues' requests and to our professor's (Sandy Mcpherson's) concern.

Black Diamonds

under an asphalt night

             with shadows of snow fists

                           permitted a short-lived pallor

          before high beams loosen their corporeal grip

a driver:

Come on…                  oh!

come

on!

Speed up

Don’t!

slow for the curves

Don’t force red out                               the rear lights

       enough of it seeps back there

Fine.

I’m Fine.

Everyone’s Fine.

But wait!                      A carpool lane?

And we are two!

I almost forgot you

  a              forceful             forgot

a                  forget              -me            -not

 you

 were there

I’ve been down

black diamonds

off a cliff

not on rocks

the snow’s been too thick

the snow                    fall            thicker before              night’s done

the snow                              a sheet            several                                    feet   

the snow                                                                                                           stifle all

silent stample                                        nestle                     with permanence

after                 there                 be                    tracing              tracks

            tonight              ’ll                     no                    skiers’

to                     whether            ’d                     down                diamonds or

            tell                    they                  led                    the                    off

                                                Nothing

                                                to worry

                                                about   You’re already

                                                                  set I’ve put

                                                                your gear on

                                                          you, skis and all

                                                              Only we must

                                                                 get there we

                                                              must get there

Red lights

Not brakes                   Blue lights too

Flashing                        Though I’m not speeding                       —Pull Over—

Slower             slower              drive slower

Hello officer                  play cool

You were driving in the carpool lane

But I know, I know I

can because we are two

But where is the second passenger?

You can’t see him?

He                    can’t                 see                   him

Clear as night certain as day come right this way

I’ll prove it if you promise not to write me up

If you promise to not

                                    not to stop

                                                            me tonight

                                                            we must be

                                                            on my way

The Authority:

Pushing, pushing, he’s pushing.

How bold.  He just must not see

My lights, yet still he’s rushing

Even though he can’t pass me.

But wait, he’s moved to the fast lane.

No signal, he can’t tell I’m a cop.

Swerving, can’t stay inside the lines,

Further to the left and he’ll drop

Not over rocks,

Not through slush,

But upon snow over snow over snow.

The metal will rip apart like strips of torn paper,

His body lost in tow.

If he flew as fast as black diamonds

I could pull him on over right now.

I first want a reason for the ticket

But wait, he’s in the fast lane, that’s how.

But we are two, he’s shaking at the joints.

He’s confused, but he’s not drunk.

He just wants to be on his way so he points.

But why is the passenger in the trunk?