Time has wound down to a stop—
just like your heart, no ticking clock.
Lightbulbs flicker,
the air vibrates,
becomes viscous,
until you cannot breathe
and heat burns scarlet on your face.
Outside on the street, life is a race,
while inside, everything has s l o w e d
right down.
Thoughts buzz frantically, like a bee
and you’re trapped in amber honey.
I put a spell on you.
Kim M. Russell, 13th October 2026
This Tuesday at the dVerse Poets Pub, Sanaa is hosting Poetics with Thirteen songs – Thirteen hauntings, a Halloween playlist prompt.
Sanaa says that “October belongs to candlelit rooms, black lace, old songs, and windows glowing against the night. It is a month caught between endings and beginnings—a little melancholy, a little magical, and just dark enough to make you wonder what might be waiting beyond midnight.”
She would like us to have fun and write deliciously spooky poems inspired by a playlist of songs, choosing ONE song of our liking and writing a poem. We should “let the music determine the mood, imagery, setting, and voice. The poem doesn’t have to retell the songs; instead, use each one as a doorway into a different Halloween world.”
I liked the look of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Nina Simone: Someone discovers that desire can become a kind of spell. Write about obsession without ever naming it.
This is absolutely stellar writing, Kim! I especially admire; “Light bulbs flicker, the air vibrates, becomes viscous, until you cannot breathe and heat burns scarlet on your face.”
Very spooky and perfect for the season! Thank you so much for writing to the prompt ❤️❤️
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Thank you for your kind comments and for the prompt, Sanaa! 💕
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Oh… to be trapped in honey… that is one really powerful spell
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Thank you, Björn!
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Kim, I would imagine being under someone’s spell would feel just like this. So often it gets glamorized but I don’t believe its anything one would want to be under.
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Thank you, Lisa. I agree.
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“Thoughts buzz frantically, like a bee
and you’re trapped in amber honey.”
Bravo
Much love
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Thank you, Gillena, and much love to you
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Carefully, delectably, the honey settles into the scene. Very soft, very ‘patient’ poetry…then suddenly, the panic, trapped…in all the sweetness of the poison…
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