Halloween's Tiny Tales

"Jack-o'-Lantern 2003-10-31" by Toby Ord - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg#/media/File:Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg

Grimacing at their pawns
As they gather upon the lawns,

Unwitting souls in the night,
Bow before Jack-o-lanterns burning bright.

The freezing yet tranquil river

Was not what made her shiver.

Chills ran down her spine

As it whispered, "You are mine."

He thought he'd had too much to drink,

Knees knocking as he began to sink

Into a growing pool of black,

None is safe when the shadows attack.

She slipped into the lavender bath,

The water seething with its wrath

As she lay there, in crimson,

Finally letting go of her gun.

He cajoles them each day,

While they sleep, while they pray.

More often than not, he finds a disciple,

A monastery, a demon, a rotten apple.

About the post:

I know I've been out of action for a while, was really tied up with some serious decisions and chores. Since this is the Halloween month, my favourite time for some good thrills and chills, I've whipped up some tiny tales to get me started for Halloween. More to come on monsters, legends, folklore and all things that scream Halloween.

Some people find it very odd that some of us get very excited about Halloween, not that it's a festival that's celebrated in India so I'd like to take this opportunity to share a point on the same. Yes, I know it is a westernized concept (but so is Valentine's, Mothers' or Fathers' day and all the rest), I grew up on a very generous dose of English cartoons (back when Cartoon Network was not what it has become in India now...feel sorry for kids now...I remember writing hate mails to them because I was so horrified with their cartoons at one point) and horror stories. Halloween is a nostalgic time for me and reminds me how wild my imagination grew around it, wild enough to weave stories that can thrill and chill, hence, I get excited and post things related to Halloween. So those who enjoy Halloween, hope that this post gives a boost to your Halloween howls :)

Arcane Rhapsodies - The Pharoah's Display

"Menphis - Egypte - 500before JC - Troop of funerary servant figures shabtis in the name of Neferibreheb" by Serge Ottaviani -
Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

“Lord of the Lords, my Master and King,

Act I must, at his bidding.”

The Shabti had such inscriptions carved in its stone

They all plead allegiance to the Pharaoh alone.

The Pharaoh was still King, though he was dead,

The Shabti were to toil in his stead.

There were other interesting finds in the tomb,

Riches, artwork, scriptures of destruction and doom.

All was kept in the display as was instructed,

All in all, the Pharaoh had been abducted.

The curator smiled like a Cheshire Cat,

With a final look, he removed his hat.

He secured the doors and locked the display tight,

He intended to stay at the museum that night.

He lit up the fireplace and lounged in his chair,

It was all worth it, the price had been fair.

The tiring expedition in the sand dunes,

The scorching, long and dry afternoons,

The many bribes that had to be paid

To get the permit, officials he had to serenade.

The museum would soon be back on its feet,

His business would soon be complete.

He called his wife and checked on his boys,

He hung up soon and was rattled by a noise.

He turned his attention to a packed, wooden box,

Hesitant at first, he finally undid the locks.

He opened the huge box and peered inside,

“Misha, nowhere else could you hide?”,

He cradled his cat and petted its head,

“You know better than to disturb the dead.”

He examined the Sarcophagus hidden in the sand,

“Tomorrow, the Pharaoh travels far, as I had planned.”

The cat kept busy while the curator soon slept

Unaware that a gust of sand there swept.

He opened his eyes when the sand was hurled at him,

He woke up to find the room dark and grim.

He struggled to find his footing in the dark,

He slipped but finally he lit a spark.

The fireplace lit up with greater force,

He shook his head, his throat felt hoarse.

As he turned, he gasped, he was taken aback,

He was surrounded, they were all ready to attack.

About the post: This is another excerpt from "Arcane Rhapsodies", the poem being, "The Pharoah's display". Will this turn out to be a nightmare or a dream come true for the curator? 

Hope you enjoyed reading this post.

You can find my book here:

Arcane Rhapsodies on Amazon.in

Arcane Rhapsodies on Authorspress Website

Check out Arcane Rhapsodies on Goodreads

Arcane Rhapsodies- Enter, The Playwright

Arcane Rhapsodies

Poems by Navya Jain

That week brought Henry much surprise,

A critique reviewed him, sans any disguise.

"The actors and the direction had flair,

But for the playwright, I could not care.

Even Thespis could not consume the verses,

And so he did bestow his curses.

The playwright failed to please,

Elements missing from his melodies."

So it is that Henry found himself at a tavern,

Looking for ancient tales that he wished to learn.

He hoped to draw inspiration from his travel,

He wondered what mysteries he was bound to unravel.

He gaped as the minstrel played unknown keys,

Singing ancient, arcane rhapsodies.

About the post: This is an excerpt from "Prologue-Arcane Rhapsodies" from my book "Arcane Rhapsodies". An unexpected critique urges Henry, the playwright, to rediscover his creative light and so he begins his journey. 

A word on Thespis, Thespis is considered to be the father of Drama. We've all heard the word "Thespians", right?

About the book: ‘Arcane Rhapsodies’ weaves together some known and some unknown folklore, myths and legends from around the world.This collection of short stories(in verses) takes the reader back and forth in time, in and out of fables, open to the reader's own interpretation. 

Henry, a renowned playwright sets out in search of inspiration for his verses. Explore with him, the dark and the light, the seen and the unseen, the imagination and the reality that surrounds us and occasionally binds us. Sometimes there is more than meets the eye, so watch out and don’t hold back as you embark on Henry's adventure that is bound to leave you thrilled.

Publisher's page-Arcane Rhapsodies

The Midnight Ballet

No, I shall not cease to sing,

My second story I now bring.

It seems only yesterday,

When I heard of the 'Midnight ballet'.

A travelling troupe of artists most eccentric.

"Most fervent appeal to Mr. Resnick

To attend the Midnight Ballet as Chief Guest

Please bring your invite, might we suggest."

Mr. Resnick put the invitation away,

He hadn't heard of any Midnight Ballet.

Just then, the radio crackled with a jingle

"Midnight Ballet-let our world mingle,

Invitation only, for the elite,

We've saved you our best seat."

Mr. Resnick re-read the invite

"No address, no time except 'Midnight'."

Just then, Mr. Resnick heard the doorbell ring

Shocked at first, he shot up like a spring.

The butler, "Remy" soon walked up to him

Unsure why his master's face looked grim.

"A letter for you Sir, delivered just now,

I would be retiring for the night, if you allow."

"Yes, yes Remy, hand it to me,

Who made the delivery? Did you see?"

Remy shook his head and handed over the letter,

"Must be that blasted actor!

If he doesn't pay up this time,

I'll make him pay, that stupid mime!"

Remy left as Mr. Resnick unsealed the envelope.

"Greetings Sir, I mean well, you will understand, I hope.

A third time I have been served your notice,

I am penniless and worthless, after the recent crisis.

But I mean well, just like you always said

I'll pay back your loan, alive or dead.

I couldn't imagine being locked away,

Nor could I stand to betray

The trust that you displayed in me.

Thus I give you my possessions, three.

The first, my mind, though broken it be

Second, my mimes, my ability.

Third, my blood, my family.

I'll be there, always, just think of me."

As Mr. Resnick read the last word,

His surroundings stirred,

He gasped for air as the stirring ceased.

"You made it, oh we are most pleased."

His hands shook, his throat was sore,

He didn't seem to be himself anymore.

He turned around and held his chest

The mime whispered, "They are putting me to rest."

Mr. Resnick turned away and shut his eyes.

"This is just in my head, I must be wise!"

He turned back and found himself alone,

"A ploy, to avoid repaying his loan!"

Mr. Resnick dismissed it all and went to bed

But he woke up frightfully, his eyes red.

The clock had rung twelve in the night,

He had promptly sat upright.

Just then, his vision grew hazy,

"Welcome one and all to the world of crazy.

Please give a roar to our Chief Guest."

Ghostly howls left him clutching his chest.

They came close, "We mean well."

They pranced about him until he fell.

Just then, a radio crackled,

"Recent artists' murders leave detectives baffled,

A 'Mr. Resnick' seems to be the common link."

I'll leave the rest for you to think.

The Ghoul of sands

The first story is from an ancient land,

Where far and near was only sand.

A desert where no life was welcome,

The life that came would soon succumb.

Not to the weather, not to forces of nature,

But to some unearthly creature.

For what else could one make of the place,

As it seemed to lack God's mercy and grace.

Nevertheless, a town prospered,

Its people stayed most undeterred.

Their leader was a man of will,

Faith and courage he vowed to instill.

"Heed my words and all will be well."

He even taught them a short spell

"My master wishes his mercy on you,

You are welcome to claim your due

From my master, for his errand I run

These onions I carry for his sickly son."

Their leader repeated his words again,

"Fret not of the outcome, just be gone then.

It may find me sometime, night or day,

I'll fend it off, I have learnt a way.

Question me not upon the matter,

If you want our children to be fatter."

The townsfolk took heed and great care,

They traveled together, always as a pair.

They avoided the desert and its dunes,

For fear of the ghoul and its hellish tunes.

"Dear husband, what have you done?

We have neither a daughter, nor a son.

What if this ghoul paid us a visit?"

"I lied, I must admit.

But I've come to learn its secret.

Once on a journey, I felt most upset.

That is when I heard a ghoulish howl.

What is that stench! So fowl!

It yelled at me as I was jolted,

With my onions, I hastily bolted.

The ghoul abhors onions it seems

Now, sleep well my dear, pleasant dreams."

That night some heard an unearthly wail,

The leader woke up and looked frightfully pale.

The next day, the townsfolk shared their fears,

"My brothers and sisters, lend me your ears,

Last night, a ghoul indeed found me,

So I brought out onions for it to see.

Fear not, for it has retreated back to nowhere

Let this gift of life not go spare."

The townsfolk cheered and got to their chores

In time, the city coffers grew and so did their stores.

Now and then, they heard a ghoulish shriek

They grew accustomed to it, week after week.

Then a day came of great celebration,

The town leader revelled with his administration.

A feast was held at the leader's abode,

Exquisite food and drinks flowed.

Seasoned with 'baharat', the meat was divine,

But the leader felt a chill down his spine.

"I don't feel too well, I must rest."

Saying that, he disappeared from the fest.

His wife tried to follow him 

But he turned her away with a tone most grim.

She pressed her ear against his bedroom door,

She feared for him, a strange wailing he bore.

She had to know what troubled him so,

That's when she remembered the secret window.

She took to the stairs and turned away the flap,

As she peered below, from a long forgotten gap.

"Its not fair, she tricked me, she tricked me!

That evil step mother, how could I not see?

The nutmeg of her 'baharat' each day,

It killed me too soon, it whisked life away.

And now again, when I find some solace,

She's after me again, she enjoys this chase.

Soon I will overpower her as I feast

Day after day, I gather the souls of the deceased.

The other ghouls, they taste fine,

Soon all these mortals will be mine."

The leader laughed and cried and laughed at fate

It looked above and smirked at her straight.