Friday Fictioneers

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He threw the rest of the paint supplies onto the pile. He looked forlornly at the landscape but threw all the red paint to cover it. He wanted no memories of the painting or the house that lived on the canvas. Memories started again to bubble up like a meal of undigested food, rancid and vile. If he could destroy the painting, maybe the horrific thoughts of that house would cease to cluster on the edge of the sane part of his mind. It was the other side of his brain that conjured the unbelievable images. The sights tortured him.

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31 October 2025

dVerse Poets

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Halloween vibes are circling young ones

Bicycling trips to graves increasing

Curiosity in minds starts its run

Ghosts and goblins arises not ceasing

Concerned parents start their ignored pleading

Monsters that have been patiently waiting

Use alluring spells constantly baiting

Children to facilitate monstrous acts

Evil characters are contemplating

But silliness covers up evil facts.

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Poetry Form: Dizain

Esther’s Word Prompts

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You can tell if someone’s on the edge, on a ledge, seeking direction. Family and friends will try to help not realizing how close to it you are, how many times you shut yourself in the bathroom to soften your cries. They think they know you, and on the outside you seem fine. But I know that look, that hesitant smile, of being on the edge.

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Word Prompts

W3

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lightning streaks show shapes

thunder raps on shutters tied

cracks in blinds distort

whispering winds speak horrors

storming all on Hallows Eve

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smoke

foggy

frightening

unfamiliar

surrounding my form

eerie feelings hover

nightmare now reality

drifting across the bedroom floor

my feet never touching the surface

“Smoke, foggy, frightening unfamiliar”.

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A tanka, 5,7,5,7,7, and a dectina refrain, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 syllables. Line ten is a combination of the first four lines in quote form.

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Wea’ve Written Weekly – a poetry prompt!

Living Poetry

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Three blind mice or holiday kings

Whoever dressed them needs a lesson

Costumes are meant as children‘s things

Humor on dogs heeds to lessen

The evil scary part of the night.

Funny dogs dressed as ghosts

Never cause anyone a fright

Licking your hands, the friendly milquetoasts

A nice try for the costume tests

While tired pups lay down and rest.

What’s that you hear?

A witch’s scream?

She’s falling off her broomstick beam?

Now there’s a sight I’d like to see

Finally a fright on Hallow’s Eve!

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Monday Poetry Prompt: Halloween

Tanka Tuesday

ML:
clumsy error
we broke the tiny saw blade
pumpkin carving blues
resolute autumn fervor
pumpkin finger painting instead

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CW:

a slip of the knife

turned a frown to a huge smile

Halloween goblins

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ML:
ripening gourds
seeds ready for roasting
plentiful harvest
last-minute costume ideas
warts for witches’ noses

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CW:

crunchy salty treats

pumpkin seeds at the ready

cleaning, washing done

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ML:
fireside marshmallows
melting onto graham crackers
season of the s’more
cheery trick-or-treaters
like king-size candy bars best

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CW:

gooey extra sweet

toothbrushes before their bed

this night treats abound

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#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 36, Tan-Ku, 10/28/25