Narrated by Frank Coffman
Illustration by Sue Babcock
His method hadn’t changed much through the years,
Since that dark day his dream became a deed.
He knew he had to kill to fill the need
That had grown in him. He overcame his fears.
His lust for blood had started a mere seed—
Simple wonder how it felt to take a life,
How her features would alter when she saw his knife,
Pained “fearlight” in her eyes as he’d proceed.
Great thrills began by stalking cleverly,
Unnoticed—finding out his “mark’s” routine.
This latest had a dark beauty he’d never seen.
At knifepoint command she disrobed, but—suddenly
He was aghast at the form revealed beneath…
He barely had time to scream when he saw the teeth!
BIO: Frank Coffman is a retired professor of college English and creative writing. He has published speculative poetry, fiction, and scholarly essays in a variety of journals, magazines, and anthologies. His poetic magnum opus, The Coven’s Hornbook & Other Poems (January 2019), has been followed by his rendition into English Verse of 327 quatrains in Khayyám’s Rubáiyát (May 2019). Both books are available from Bold Venture Press and on Amazon.
“He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association. He established and moderates the Weird Poets Society Facebook group and he selected, edited, introduced, and did commentary for his Robert E. Howard: Selected Poems.
—see his Writer’s Blog at: https://www.frankcoffman-writer.com