Find the information here: https://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-9/

Today, I’d like to challenge you to read a few of the poems from Spoon River Anthology, and then write your own poem in the form of a monologue delivered by someone who is dead.

When I was reading the post about the anthology and then the optional prompt I thought of this family when I was a young child. The family was not very clean. Now looking back, perhaps they didn’t have the money to pay for detergents and soaps. Nearly everyone in town knew where they lived and although I am ashamed to admit this openly, we all used to hold our breath when we passed by their house on the bus. It is so mean and I am not proud of it but they came to mind. I think they may have come to mind because it is a family that is now haunting the living as revenge to all those people who were so cruel to them in life. This family is still alive as far as I know and I wish them no harm. I think if they knew, and maybe they did, then they would find some “humor” in their haunting!

Family Plot 

Before, they were known 
by the odor sent forth 
from their windows and doors. 

Now they lay together 
rotting into the earth 
emitting an odor much worse 
than any that came  
from their windows and doors. 

And he who lay beside them 
must live in death  
with an odor repulsive 
through dirt  
with no windows or doors. 

Together they rot in peace 
All sending their odor 
to all passersby 
as they did in life.  

©2021 CBialczak Poetry
NaPoWriMo 2021