Gather and let me tell you a story
About a bright, white, ghostly, shifting light
A lantern that hangs over the railroad
Faithfully shining the way through the night
* * *
The lantern once stood for fame and glory
But now it brings night-goers quite the fright
When they see the specter at its abode
A singular light that makes them give flight
* * *
The light’s owner met an end so gory
It would make your hair stand up to full height
Struck utterly by a train while he strode
Too bloody, too scarred about which to write
* * *
Now the lantern haunts the tracks and quarry
Shining the way for travelers so bright
Even as the trail that he took erodes
It tries to save others from his same plight
* * *
So when you think back upon this story
And your throat begins to grow dry and tight
Remember why each night that lantern rode
And give it all the respect that you might
About the Creator
Stephanie Hoogstad
With a BA in English and MSc in Creative Writing, writing is my life. I have edited and ghost written for years with some published stories and poems of my own.
Learn more about me: thewritersscrapbin.com
Support my writing: Patreon
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Comments (4)
Don't want to meet him on any given night. Though he helps the living. Scary poem in lantern's light. Lovely.
I love the narrative and your word choice throughout. Well done!
Beware of gentlemen carrying lanterns, I say! I don't know why, and I know it's not the same story, but this gave me The Legend of Sleepy Hollow feel. Fabulous myth!
This is wonderfully dark, almost like a warning nursery rhyme, love it. Should be a Top STory