An October Fright

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Sunset would soon reveal itself
On this day not quite the thirty-first.
Late afternoon brought warm temps,
He shifted the car into reverse.

Looking in the rear-view mirror
Ready to part from the stall,
His eyes blinked several times,
What he saw took disturbing gall.

A clown from a horror film
With head bent to the right –
He thought, “What the hell?”
Celebrating defense of daylight!

Mind and body didn’t easily scare,
Toughened by the screen.
But trepidation began to build,
Though not in the least to be seen.

However, he swiftly chose to ignore
Since the dashboard clock continued to tick.
No weapon glistened in light of day,
Time did not allow for a lunatic.

The right move was decided
To turn the other cheek.
Pointless to provoke,
yet, he wasn’t acting weak.

The sedan attempted to roll back
As the clown surprisingly stepped aside.
Avoiding contact with those eyes,
the accelerator was applied.

A form of frightening entertainment,
Ages ago, clowns, fun and comical.
Their smiles joyful, but now creepy.
An event surely psychological.

Nevertheless, a happy ending for this tale –
Altercation dodged, he thankfully stayed safe.
But fun appears in interesting forms –
This afternoon, dreadfully, eerily displayed.

(The inspiration for this poem came from my son’s unsettling experience in college years ago. It turned into a timely post for the spooky event approaching at the end of this month.)

Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites ©2024 – All rights reserved.
Image: Openverse: rendition scary clown Pennywise movie by Carol M Highsmith is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
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Thanks for stopping by, and watch out for those clowns! 🤡

76 thoughts on “An October Fright”

  13. EEEeeeeeeK!!!!

    Yikes, clowns can be terrifying.

    This is a cool poem for Halloween, Lauren.

    On another hand, it could be the into voice over to a Halloween Horror movie, the poem turns into a complete story… which is the movie.

    Terrific writing!

    Thank you!

    🤡🎃💀👻🤡 (xoxo)

    1. Hi Resa, I know, they are so creepy now ever since the movie “It” by Stephen King came out in 1986. And to think I used to like clowns decades ago. My mom made me a cute clown costume that I wore for years, but then I had a change of heart. 😳 Thanks for your kind words about my poem. My poor son had a moment though when this happened. But it was years ago and all ended well, which made for good writing inspiration. 🙂 Thanks again! Happy October and stay safe! ❤️🤗🤡👻🎃

      1. You stay safe too!
        I adore October, great walking weather.
        It’s a cool early Halloween poem, Lauren.
        It does seem like a movie.
        🌟💓❦❦❦

      2. Thanks again for your wonderful words about my poem. And we’ve had a week of triple digits. Ugh! So, fall weather is yet to come, and we are so ready. Without central ac, it’s miserable when inside the temp reaches 87-90. Sigh. But we’re doing okay and can’t complain when we see the devastation from Helene. Breaks our hearts. Anyway, enjoy your Sunday. 💞💞💞🌻🌻🌻

    1. Definitely spooky, thanks, Sue! We’ve had triple digits all week. Stepping outside feels oppressive, but tomorrow should be the last day. Fingers crossed. Needless to say, we’re hunkering down without central a/c just trying to stay cool. Take care, my friend. xoxo

  21. Not gonna lie–clowns are straight-up creepy…especially since reading Stephen King’s IT many years ago. I shall be overjoyed if I never see one again. 😂 A harrowing experience for your son, it sounds like, and a mesmerizing poem as well. 😊

    1. You took the words right out of my mouth, Mike. This experience could have had a frightening ending, but thankfully, my son kept cool and the ‘clown’ stepped aside. Thanks for your kind words about my poem too. Have a good Sunday. 🤗🤡😁

  22. Halloween was always fun, especially for my sons.

    When I was a child, we lived out in the country, beautiful by day but creepy by night. Dad would wait in the car while we navigated the long, and often steep and uneven driveways. Pitch black and deathly silent, we pushed on for another treat and often spooky greeting at the doors.

    The experience was fun yet unsettling, oftentimes bringing on the nightmares. Mom would always check the goodies before we consumed them.

    One Halloween we watched the movie ‘The Exorcist’ and I sat up with the lamplight on all night.

    Your writings are always wonderful Lauren! Many blessings to you.

    1. Hi Don, I can understand how nighttime in the country could be scary for a young child. The Exorcist and Amityville Horror were the end of my scary-movie- watching days. 🙂 So, I can relate! Thanks always for your kind words and visit!

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