K. Hartless

Halloween by the Sea

Halloween by the sea–
foam decomposing,
fingernail seashells,
a spiderweb of waves,
monster horseshoe crabs;
the beach is a science lab.

Halloween by the sea–
specter seagulls squawk
their shadows haunt the shoreline
as vampiric flies descend
in search of carrion
or sunburned, salty friends.

Halloween by the sea–
flatline fish on lines,
a tombstone tide,
hearse when high,
carries skeleton shells
for their final, clattering ride.

Halloween by the sea–
jack-o’lantern dunes,
apricot beer in hand.
What trick-or-treats,
each shovelful
of mystery sand.

My photograph from Halloween at Cape Henlopen Park.

Ingrid’s challenged us this evening to write a poem using only concrete nouns, subject matter and imagery. So, I fashioned this verse about my Halloween weekend by the sea. It’s difficult to be concrete all the time, but I think even my haunted imagery counts. Join us for tonight’s Poetics: Concrete or Abstract?

Published by K. Hartless

K. Hartless is a persistent poet, free-spirited fiction writer, and word trapeze artist. She’s been recently published in Chamber Magazine, 365tomorrows, Luna Station Quarterly, The Last Girls Club, Edge of Humanity Magazine, and Spillwords. Her blog, Yard Sale of Thoughts, blends fiction, poetry, music, and art to create new experiences for readers.

46 comments

  2. This is absolutely exquisite! I especially admire; “Halloween at the sea–
    flatline fish on lines, a tombstone tide, hearse when high.”💝💝

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. I love the idea of Halloween by the Sea, I did experience this once (in Costa del Sol) but I was too tired to go out! My favourite stanza is this:

    Halloween by the sea–
    flatline fish on lines,
    a tombstone tide,
    hearse when high,
    carries skeleton shells
    for their final, clattering ride.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Sometimes an image is so spot on, so stunningly accurate, it makes you stop, take a breath and wonder why you didn’t think of it first. Fingernail seashells is a perfect example. 👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you, Helen. Would be a great place for a writer’s retreat. It was our first Halloween by the sea, and I will say, we fell in love with the breezy fall shoreline.

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      Reply

  16. I know I am reading a solid poem(if you’ll excuse the pun)when after the first few lines I am smiling out of pure pleasure to have found it. I love the way you have built not just images, but a world here, one that has its own peculiar/familiar denizens, its own secrets, and its own rules. I could quote it all back to you, but I especially loved the lines that end each stanza–short, biting and expressive. What a pleasure this morning to read.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  20. Great photo and text.
    It looks like here at the beach behind our house. Where is Cape Henlopen – it reminds us of Hinlopen at Svalbard but looks totally different.
    Thanks for sharing
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Many thanks. Yes, I could have practically been in your backyard, then. We have family in Lewes, and visit Cape Henlopen frequently. A mild fall on the Delaware coast found us easily spending all day at the beach all day. Warm regards to the Fab Four of Cley. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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